Below are the 2 most recent journal entries recorded in brunelrowley's InsaneJournal:

Saturday, December 17th, 2011
12:21 pm	Sub-Metering Made Easy More than ever, companies are concerned about their energy bills and their carbon footprint. The good news is that the two can be tackled as one. Sub-metering allows the constant and accurate measurement of the energy consumption and carbon footprint of large scale commercial properties such as hotels, hospitals and large shops. Traditionally, the sub-metering of utilities involved installing new equipment within the site’s existing network. In the case of electricity sub-metering this could mean the expensive rewiring of existing electricity sub-metering. Even once installed, the uses of a single sub-meter are limited. After all, once you have installed a meter leading into your main computer stack, then it can only ever be used to monitor the energy consumption of that computer stack. Monitoring several pieces of equipment is going to involve the costly installation of multiple sub-meters. Right? Wrong. The e-Tracker is a portable, non-invasive sub-meter that allows for energy monitoring of circuits and specific equipment as easily as larger circuits. Ever heard the phrase, “Take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves”? Well, energy monitoring is all about keeping an eye on the little details. You can monitor the overall amount of energy being consumed by your hotel, but this will really only show you where the big, obvious wastage is going on: the sort of stuff you could really have spotted yourself. Portable and non-invasive sub-metering lets you see where the slow bleeds are, e.g. the old computer monitors that are consuming more energy than the modern ones, the server stack that is throwing out half its energy as heat and vibrations, etc. The data can be downloaded from the e-Tracker onto a USB stick and reviewed on a desktop computer. You get an easy to understand line graph showing energy consumption across a period of time. From there, it's easy to see where and how your energy consumption is going. Many large businesses are now legally obliged to adhere to certain Carbon Reduction Commitments. If they are to save energy - and money - then micro-management of energy consumption is as important a part of energy monitoring as keeping an eye on your monthly bills. The e-Tracker provides that versatility, making energy monitoring quick, simple and easy. Current Mood: cheerful (Comment on this)
Friday, November 11th, 2011
8:26 pm	Roof Requirements for Solar Panels We all want to be kind to the planet and we all want to save a few pennies along the way. Fuel costs and interest rates are on the rise, meaning lot of us have more to pay but less money to pay it with. Solar panels are an attractive option; they’re environmentally friendly, they can save you money and there are even grants available for their installation. So while we’d all love to deck our house out in these lovely plates of waste and cost repellent armour, there are a few things to consider first. Sadly, not all houses are suitable for solar panel installation. If your house is situated in a conservation area or World Heritage Site, making any alterations to it can be a nightmare. In many cases, solar panel installation will be considered a “permitted development”, meaning you won’t need planning permission but will have to meet a few extra requirements; 1) As far as is possible, the panels should be sited so as to minimise their aesthetic intrusion. That is, try to make them as inconspicuous as possible. 2) The solar panels should cause minimal intrusion to the amenity of the area, i.e. the solar panels shouldn’t spoil those things that make the conservation area so attractive in the first place. 3) The solar panels should be removed as soon as possible should they no longer be in service. So, for example, if you sell the property and the new owner doesn't want to continue using the solar panels, they should be removed. 4) Make sure your solar panel installers do not fit them above the ridgeline of your roof. Neither should they project more than 200mm from the roof. 5) Although solar panel installation does not require planning permission, if your house is listed the standard listed building consent is still necessary (just as if you were installing a satellite dish, for example). Non-listed houses and those outside of conservation areas do still have some regulations placed on them as regards solar panel installation. Obviously, the roof of your house has to be physically able to bear the weight of the panels. If your roof is in a poor state of repair, then it may not be strong enough to carry the weight, or may not offer a sufficiently secure anchor for the panels. Panels fitted to poor roofs can break the roof or even fall off. The strength of your roof will need to be checked and proven before you have solar panels installed. Strengthening or repair work may be necessary. Obviously, solar panels will only work if they have a good, constant supply of sunlight. All of the usual jokes about the British climate aside, roofs with a northern aspect are not suitable, and neither are those which are completely in the shade. In such cases, solar panel installation would be a complete waste of time and money, as the panels would simply not receive enough sunlight to function. One also has to consider all the standard regulations regarding major electrical work. It’s advisable to get qualified solar panel installers in to check your house meets all of the essential requirements. Don't be put off having solar panels installed. Most houses will require no work to be done at all. Even if your roof does need a little repair work or strengthening, the cost will easily be offset by the savings you make from your own private source of renewable energy. The secret to green energy and lower fuel bills might be right above your head. Solar Days are Shropshire-based solar panel installers who are happy to advise you on any queries you may have. Visit us now at http://www.solarpanels-pv.com/. Solar panels offer a good way to save, earn and support the planet as well as utilizing a totally free energy source. For all enquiries you should take a look at Solar Days Ltd Current Mood: calm (Comment on this)