It's a better than nothing, I guess but I couldn't help but crank a slight eyebrow at this: NPower launches eco-friendly ads
I've always been a bit dubious on nPower since seeing their activities at the Ideal Home Show 'eco' (Ahem, not) theme year, when they were a major sponsor. And Juice has been low on my estimation since seeing a bunch of Greenpeace cardboard stuck on 4x4s at Gloucester train station, sponsored by same.
At least the Guardian has at least put it that 'the energy company says the initiative is the UK's first eco-friendly campaign'. Up there with carbon neutral, I am unsure what the heck that means, or does. Or anything.
Or indeed what the actual enviROI is, as opposed to just winning advertising awards and spinning a green story.
Junkk.com promotes fun, reward-based e-practices, sharing oodles of info in objective, balanced ways. But we do have personal opinions, too! Hence this slightly ‘off of site, top of mind' blog by Junkk Male Peter. Hopefully still more ‘concerned mates’ than 'do this... or else' nannies, with critiques seen as constructive or of a more eyebrow-twitching ‘Oh, really?!' variety. Little that’s green can be viewed only in black and white.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
5 comments:
I believe in freedom of speech. But I also don't like bullies on blogs, even verbal ones, as they can drive away those with something valid to say... or offer.
Subjective is fine, but well argued and substantiated is even better. Calm and polite tops. Anything that crosses my personal line will not go up. There may be reasons given, but not guaranteed.
I'm not too keen on 'Anon' as a handle (and the content usually explains why), so if that's what you opt for it may not make it. Sorry.
In 2006, nPower supplied just 5% of its electricity from renewables:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.electricityinfo.org/supplierdataall.php?year=latest
The Renewables Obligation was about 7% then, so they are hardly ahead of the game as a company........
Lawrence
You guys spoil me. But I thank you.
ReplyDeleteWhat a team. Me to ask dumb questions. You to provide smart answers.
With supporting facts. I like that bit.
Of course, there will be those with 'other' facts, I guess.
I hate to be negative if they are genuinely trying, but why do I feel an ad campaign based on such dubious bases being brewed up as we speak?
The source of one's 'green' supply is just another source of confusion for the consumer I reckon.
And guess what. I'm munching my midday sarnie watching lunchtime AuntieNews and lo, British Gas will give you the greenest something or other at eighty quid on top, whatever that means.
Just happened to notice on p39 of today's Independent, a legal notice from RWE Npower plc about additional environmental information available about their application to build a 2000 MW capacity gas turbine power station.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the British Wind Energy Association website, Npower renewables currently has 111 MW of wind power plant under construction........
Lawrence
Thanks for that.
ReplyDeleteOK, dumbo time again.
Does a gas turbine plant produce CO2? I'm guessing yes.
If so, and rounding around on efficiencies, other stuff, etc, wouldn't that mean the total renewables mentioned would account for 5% of its rated output?
If so, at least they are consistent!
Looking forward to the ad, though.
Peter,
ReplyDeleteYes, you guessed right: about 0.4 kg per kWh, compared with about 1.0 kg per kWh with coal-fired.
The 111 MW figure is the maximum output, which would realistically give 30 ish MW averaged over a year, given a 0.3 capacity factor. A corresponding factor for the gas-powered station is more complicated, as it is likely to vary in output intentionally to balance supply and demand in the national grid. We'd be lucky perhaps to reach renewables of 5% having done that calculation.
Lawrence