I came across this interesting article on TIME Moneyland today. Click the link to read further...
“We are never satisfied. That is a large part of what makes IKEA successful. We are always critical. We ask: Why can’t we do this better? Why can’t it be cheaper? We swing between frustration and inspiration and are never complacent. If someone says, ‘Well, this is pretty good,’ then he or she is in denial. Because it can always be better,” he says.
Read more: http://moneyland.time.com/2011/07/06/everything-at-ikea-is-getting-cheaper/#ixzz1ROjxOkIj
ECONO-HEAT was established in 1990 and is the inventor and manufacturer of the original, energy-saving 400 watt electric wall panel heater, as well as other energy efficient heating appliances. Based in Cape Town, South Africa, ECONO-HEAT has provided warmth and winter comfort to many for over two decades, and now exports to over 40 countries worldwide! See www.econo-heat.com for further information.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Toyota making more of an effort in sourcing alternatives for rare metals
Toyota's not too pleased with the general scarcity of rare earth minerals and China's near-monopolisticgrip on the world's supply, so it's decided to act before it's too late. A company spokesman has been cited as saying the Prius maker is hard at work on a new electric motor design that should dramatically reduce (though seemingly not eliminate) the need for rare earths in its production. Aside from being made of less price-volatile materials, the new electric ticker is expected to be generally cheaper to manufacture. Further details aren't yet available, but we hope this turns into a classic case of necessity breeding innovation -- that Prius C concept deserves a set of internals that can keep up with its bodacious exterior.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Innovative Energy-saving 'smart glass' - wow!
I found this interesting article this morning from C-Net, discussing a new type of window glass that can detect light, while saving on energy at the same time. Have a quick read below. Good to hear of such companies creating innovative products that help reduce waste and their carbon footprint. - Pete Bräsler
Rather than rely on blinds, Soladigm has a glass product that uses sensors to tell windows how to adjust light.
The Silicon Valley-based start-up said Tuesday that it raised $30 million in private equity to move forward on its plan to manufacture auto-tinting windows for energy-efficient commercial buildings. The series-C round of funding was led by DBL Investors and Nano Dimension and includes money from General Electric and existing investors Khosla Ventures and Sigma Partners.
Earlier this year, Soladigm secured $44 million in loans and grants from the state of Mississippi to construct a factory to make its "smart glass" in Olive Branch. The company also received a $3.5 million Department of Energy research and development grant and an undisclosed amount of money to finance equipment purchases, according to CEO Rao Mulpuri.
The company plans to start operating its Mississippi plant by the end of 2011 and begin shipping its product in 2012, he said.
Soladigm makes so-called electrochromatic glass, which can automatically tint when an electric charge is applied. The company's Dynamic Glass product relies on sensors to detect amounts of light and temperature. Based on that, windows can adjust to allow or block incoming light to reduce glare or heat.
Using auto-tinting windows can save 25 percent on heating and cooling energy and reduce peak-time heating by 30 percent, said Mulpuri. A lower peak-time load allows architects and building designers to purchase a smaller heating and cooling system to save money, he added.
Electrochromatic glass has been around for a long time but because of cost and performance, it has not taken hold. Mulpuri said the company has addressed issues over reliability and has lowered the cost so that the energy savings help pay for the higher price of coated windows quickly.
He declined to say what material Soladigm uses to coat glass but said the company has a license to use technology developed at the Lawrence Berkeley National Labs for future versions of its product.
The company plans to fit into the existing window industry supply chain and sell to window manufacturers. Soladigm's primary customers are architects and designers, but Mulpuri said that Dynamic Glass isn't only for certified-green building construction and retrofits. "The product is as much about improved functionality for the end user as it is about energy efficiency," he said.
Earlier this year, French building materials giant Saint Gobain invested in Sage Electrochromics, which plans to make energy-saving windows and skylights at a factory in Minnesota.
Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20025504-54.html#ixzz18ABWUpjs
Have a fantastic holiday break, from all of us at the Econo-Heat head office!
Econo-Heat International Cape Town Head Office wishes you and your family a safe and well rested holiday break. May you have a successful 2011. We will be moving premises early in the New Year 2011, therefore this may be one of the final moments that I get to share with you a view from my office - looking out onto our current warehouse.
I'm sure that Santa has a lot more stock to deliver than our current warehouse is holding!
All the best!
Monday, December 13, 2010
CLEAN AND GREEN ELECTRIC CARS ARRIVING in USA! World's first Nissan Leaf delivered
Somebody at Nissan knows how to keep to a calendar, it seems, as the promised December US deliveriesof the Leaf began over this weekend. A big deal was made out of the first one's arrival, a shiny black number purchased by Olivier Chalouhi from the San Francisco Bay Area, which will be accompanied by Leafs landing across the other launch markets of Arizona, Southern California, Oregon, Seattle, and Tennessee. A second batch of Nissan's all-electric hatchbacks is coming on December 20th, with the company promising a nationwide US launch for 2012. In the meantime, Hawaii and Texas will be the next locales to join the fun early in 2011 and reservations will be reopened soon thereafter. Sadly, some "additional markets" are expected to be pushed into the latter half of the year -- guess Nissan knows how to use a calendar to mark off its delays too. Article via ENGADGET By Vlad Savov 
posted Dec 13th 2010 6:02AMHow to Heat Your Home Eco-Consciously
Below is a handy video featuring tips for saving electricity this winter, with Patty Kim from the Green Guide for Howdini. All of the tips work well, while decreasing your carbon footprint and electricity bill. Keep in mind, that the Econo-Heat electric wall panel heater would further increase your savings during winter, when used in conjunction with the tips outlined in the video below.
Convection technology circulates the air in the room to take the chill out, while heating the WHOLE room effective and efficiently.
Convection technology circulates the air in the room to take the chill out, while heating the WHOLE room effective and efficiently.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Stronger green energy policies can help G-20 nations, wind power and the planet
The 77-page report found investments in wind power and other renewable energy assets in G-20 countries are projected to reach $189 billion by 2020 if governments implement no additional policies.
Nations can experience tremendous renewable energy investment growth over the next decade by adopting enhanced energy and climate policies, according to a new report by the Pew Charitable Trusts.
The 77-page report found investments in wind power and other renewable energy assets in G-20 countries are projected to reach $189 billion by 2020 if governments implement no additional policies.
Financing increases to $212 billion if the G-20 countries enact the pledges they made shortly after the UN climate change conference in Copenhagen last December.
The report released Wednesday also found investment could reach $337 billion annually in 2020 — a 160% increase compared with 2010 investments in renewable energy assets — if “comprehensive and effective measures are introduced” to take full advantage of the global clean energy economy.
In terms of the European Union, the report said, “Member States are expected to attract $56 billion in annual investments by 2020 under current policies, $62 billion if Copenhagen pledges are met and $85 billion if enhanced clean energy policies are pursued.”
Members of the world’s wealthiest nations, or the G-20, include the EU, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom.
The report said neither current policies nor emission-reduction targets pledged under the Copenhagen Accord can maximize renewable energy investment or meet goals for curbing global warming.
“If clean energy policies are strengthened significantly in the coming years, we project that $2.3 trillion will be invested in clean power assets over the next 10 years, offering companies and countries enormous opportunities to compete for investments, jobs and export markets,” the report said.
The report also noted “wind energy will continue to be the leading recipient of large-scale asset financing through 2020, reflecting its status as a relatively mature and cost-competitive, large-scale clean energy technology.”
Under the enhanced clean energy scenario, the report says, asset financing in wind is projected to be $190 billion — an increase of 222% over 10 years.
The report was published at the same time that the UN annual conference on climate change is taking place in Cancun.
In addition, the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) has just published a report saying Europe needs to increase its cuts to greenhouse gas emissions from 20% to 30% by 2020 compared to 1990 levels to boost economic growth, maintain its technology leadership and keep climate change in check. The EWEA report also says wind energy can play a crucial role in helping Europe meet a 30% target.
By Chris Rose, blog.ewea.org/
www.pewtrusts.org/uploadedFiles/wwwpewtrustsorg/Reports/Global_warming/G20-Report-LowRes.pdf
www.ewea.org/fileadmin/ewea_documents/documents/publications/reports/Climate_change_pamphlet_FINAL.pdf
The 77-page report found investments in wind power and other renewable energy assets in G-20 countries are projected to reach $189 billion by 2020 if governments implement no additional policies.
Financing increases to $212 billion if the G-20 countries enact the pledges they made shortly after the UN climate change conference in Copenhagen last December.
The report released Wednesday also found investment could reach $337 billion annually in 2020 — a 160% increase compared with 2010 investments in renewable energy assets — if “comprehensive and effective measures are introduced” to take full advantage of the global clean energy economy.
In terms of the European Union, the report said, “Member States are expected to attract $56 billion in annual investments by 2020 under current policies, $62 billion if Copenhagen pledges are met and $85 billion if enhanced clean energy policies are pursued.”
Members of the world’s wealthiest nations, or the G-20, include the EU, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom.
The report said neither current policies nor emission-reduction targets pledged under the Copenhagen Accord can maximize renewable energy investment or meet goals for curbing global warming.
“If clean energy policies are strengthened significantly in the coming years, we project that $2.3 trillion will be invested in clean power assets over the next 10 years, offering companies and countries enormous opportunities to compete for investments, jobs and export markets,” the report said.
The report also noted “wind energy will continue to be the leading recipient of large-scale asset financing through 2020, reflecting its status as a relatively mature and cost-competitive, large-scale clean energy technology.”
Under the enhanced clean energy scenario, the report says, asset financing in wind is projected to be $190 billion — an increase of 222% over 10 years.
The report was published at the same time that the UN annual conference on climate change is taking place in Cancun.
In addition, the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) has just published a report saying Europe needs to increase its cuts to greenhouse gas emissions from 20% to 30% by 2020 compared to 1990 levels to boost economic growth, maintain its technology leadership and keep climate change in check. The EWEA report also says wind energy can play a crucial role in helping Europe meet a 30% target.
By Chris Rose, blog.ewea.org/
www.pewtrusts.org/uploadedFiles/wwwpewtrustsorg/Reports/Global_warming/G20-Report-LowRes.pdf
www.ewea.org/fileadmin/ewea_documents/documents/publications/reports/Climate_change_pamphlet_FINAL.pdf
How Convection Technology Works
Heat is mainly generated behind the heater in the space between the panel and the wall, which leads to an efficient up-draught of heat circulated into the room (the heated air comes out from behind the heater at the speed of 0.7m per second!). This principle of natural convection means that about 90% of the heat in the room comes from the back of the panel, while only 10% is radiated from the front.
Convection heating (room heater) is far more effective than radiated heating (locality heater).
See www.econo-heat.com for more information on how you can save on your heating costs this winter.
Convection heating (room heater) is far more effective than radiated heating (locality heater).
See www.econo-heat.com for more information on how you can save on your heating costs this winter.
Econo-Heat is now shipping direct to Germany!
ACHTUNG! The German Box has been finalised and printed. It's looking GREAT! We are ready to ship directly to Germany for the up-coming season. Save on heating costs with the Econo-Heat electric wall panel heater - THE ORIGINAL INNOVATIVE energy-saving solution!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)