How can solar Photovoltaic Systems Help Reduce Energy Bills?

In this eco-conscious world that we live in, carbon footprints and energy consumption is at the forefront of our minds. In the average household, between 25% and 35% of the energy used is wasted. With so much emphasis constantly placed on recycling, using public transport rather than our own vehicles and energy efficiency, it is hard to know where to begin with our own personal save-the-planet mission.

If you are a homeowner, the focus will also undoubtedly be on energy bills. After the recession, at a time when the nation is just getting back on its feet, energy bills have been steadily rising, with the six major energy suppliers (EDF Energy, British Gas, Scottish Power, E.On, Scottish & Southern Energy and Npower) all planning to up their prices this year.

There is a solution to both the issue of eco-protection and price. Reports claim that the production of solar photovoltaic systems has doubled every two years since 2002, making it the fastest-growing method of solar power in the world. It is now considered the leading renewable consumer energy source.

Solar photovoltaic systems are panels which have a thin layer of semi-conducting material (similar to the small ones used on watches and calculators). When exposed to sunlight, the electrons inside the atoms which make up the material are knocked loose and flow through the material to create a direct current, more commonly known as a DC. This is then carried from the solar panels through to an inverter, which changes the current to an alternating current (AC). This can then be used as energy to power your electricity, heat your water, etc. Many worry that, living in England, where sunshine is hard to come by, their solar panels won't be effective but this isn't the case – the panels made in Europe are designed to generate power even on cloudy days (of which there are many in this country).

When a home doesn't require energy from the main energy suppliers, the owner will undoubtedly be saving money. When energy prices rise, which they have been steadily doing, it has absolutely no effect on those powering their own homes. Not only can the solar photovoltaic systems save you money, it can also turn a profit. In April 2010, the government also announced a 'Feed-In Tariff', to encourage homeowners to generate their own energy. Any energy you don't use from the solar panels is effectively sold back to the national grid, with you pocketing up to £850 a year in payback (tax-free). The 'Generation Tariff' earns you a fixed income for every kilowatt hour of energy you create and the 'Export Tariff' earns you an income for the energy you sell back to the grid. This tariff is guaranteed by the government for 25 years.

To find out more about using solar panels in your home, visit www.ellwoodelectrical.co.uk or Tel: 01473 712 868.

Christmas Lights At BLT Direct

Now that September is in full-swing, many towns and cities across the UK will undoubtedly turn their attentions to Christmas festivities and the famous Christmas lights switch-on. The annual events, usually hosted by pop stars, TV stars and other celebrities, generally attract crowds of thousands and every city wants their Christmas lights display to be the most impressive – which is why preparations have to start so early!

In a similar way to High Streets across the country, many people like to decorate their house for Christmas, and everybody wants their lights to look the most spectacular on their street. The most prepared will start putting their lights up in October or November, and will most likely already know exactly what their display will look like. Once that first light-up Santa appears on a lawn, the floodgates will open. Why not get ahead of the crowd and start planning your seasonal display now?

From the traditional coloured fairy lights to the latest energy-saving bulbs, BLT Direct, an online supplier of light solutions, is home to all your Christmas light display needs. With fantastic ranges of both indoor and outdoor Christmas lights, BLT Direct aims to make your house stand out from the crowd this Winter. Conventional Straight Christmas Lights start at just £7.90 for 40 bulbs of the LED variety, which use around a tenth of the energy of filament bulbs, and provide a brighter light. Safe to use outdoors as well as inside, string these lights up around your garden or create a pattern in your window to let Santa know you're home and impress your neighbours and guests.

For the eco-conscious among us, trying to reduce our carbon footprint, BLT Direct sells Solar Christmas Lights for excellent prices. 100 LED lights with a solar kit costs just £19.99 and is 9.9 metres in length. The kit will save on your electricity bills throughout the entire festive season, leaving you free to treat yourself to an extra present come Christmas Eve.

BLT Direct knows that having the best display is all in the detail, and that the light show has to continue indoors. The very traditional Candle Bridge Arch Lights provide a warm and cosy feeling for your home during the cold festive period. Place them in the window, on a dinner table or on a mantlepiece to add style and simplicity to your Christmas decorations.

Undoubtedly some people will stop at nothing to have the best display, not just on their street, but in the country. To achieve some truly dramatic illumination, try BLT Direct's Coloured LED Flood Lights, available in a whole assortment of different colours. The lights cost just £44.99, a saving of 36% on their recommended retail price of £69.99. For basic radiance try the warm white lights, or to create an even more seasonal atmosphere, why not try both red and green? The flood lights are available separately, or as a colour changing light for the same price.

To find out more and order online, visit http://www.bltdirect.com

The End Of The 60-Watt Lightbulb - Stock Up Today

Legislation by the EU will soon come into action prohibiting the sale of 60-watt incandescent lightbulbs all across Europe. The ban will be enforced on September 1^st 2011, halting the production of the conventional bulbs in favour of more energy-efficient lighting methods. Whilst it will not be illegal to sell any of the restricted products that were purchased before the ban came into effect, retailers will be forbidden from restocking the filament bulbs from the beginning of September onwards.

The ban is the latest stage in a worldwide plan to gradually phase out incandescent lightbulbs, a proposal which has already been wheeled out across the United States of America and has seen the production and sale of 100-watt bulbs brought to an end. In an era where we are more conscious of the environment and our carbon footprints than ever, the notion that the majority of the energy that is fed into the traditional incandescent light bulbs is converted to heat rather than the intended light is considered to be too inefficient for manufacturers to continue production. The new legislation endeavours to encourage people to convert to more modern energy saving light bulbs.

The truly eco-friendly LED lightbulbs, which can last for up to five years longer than typical incandescent lightbulbs, are being recommended as 'green' replacements. LEDs, or 'light-emitting diodes', can require just 7 watts of power to create the same amount of light generated by a typical 60-watt bulb, and there are claims that replacing just one incandescent bulb with an LED can cut electricity bills by £5 per year, such is their effectiveness. They barely emit any heat and as such, are considered the perfect option for Christmas lights and other decorative purposes. There has been some speculation and research into the fact that the newer GU10 lightbulbs, whilst considered the best in energy saving lighting methods, may not produce as much light as the older alternatives and though this may have been true in the past when the research was carried out, the production techniques and the processes used to create such bulbs have certainly developed since then.

With the imminent ban approaching fast and demand for incandescent bulbs soaring, many retailers have pushed up the prices of the long-established 60-watt bulbs to increase their profits while they can. But for those people who want to stock up before the restriction comes into effect, without spending extortionate amounts of money, there is a solution. The traditional 60-watt bulbs are still available to buy from BLT Direct, an online supplier of light solutions, in a wide variety of shapes and colours and with a great range of bases and attachments, starting at just £1.43 each or as a box of ten at only £12.59 (VAT included).

To find out more and order online, visit http://www.bltdirect.com