This is only a preview of the June 2007 issue of Silicon Chip. You can view 35 of the 104 pages in the full issue, including the advertisments. For full access, purchase the issue for $10.00 or subscribe for access to the latest issues. Articles in this series:
Items relevant to "20W Class-A Amplifier Module; Pt.2":
Items relevant to "A Knock Detector For The Programmable Ignition":
Items relevant to "Versatile 4-Input Mixer With Tone Controls":
Items relevant to "Fun With The New PICAXE 14-M":
Items relevant to "Frequency-Activated Switch For Cars":
Purchase a printed copy of this issue for $10.00. |
SILICON
CHIP
www.siliconchip.com.au
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
Leo Simpson, B.Bus., FAICD
Production Manager
Greg Swain, B.Sc.(Hons.)
Technical Staff
John Clarke, B.E.(Elec.)
Ross Tester
Jim Rowe, B.A., B.Sc, VK2ZLO
Photography
Ross Tester
Reader Services
Ann Morris
Advertising Enquiries
Glyn Smith
Phone (02) 9939 3295
Mobile 0431 792 293
glyn<at>siliconchip.com.au
Regular Contributors
Brendan Akhurst
Rodney Champness, VK3UG
Kevin Poulter
Mike Sheriff, B.Sc, VK2YFK
Stan Swan
SILICON CHIP is published 12 times
a year by Silicon Chip Publications
Pty Ltd. ACN 003 205 490. ABN 49
003 205 490 All material copyright
©. No part of this publication may
be reproduced without the written
consent of the publisher.
Printing: Hannanprint, Noble Park,
Victoria.
Distribution: Network Distribution
Company.
Subscription rates: $89.50 per year
in Australia. For overseas rates, see
the subscription page in this issue.
Editorial office: Unit 1, 234 Harbord
Rd, Brookvale, NSW 2100.
Postal address: PO Box 139,
Collaroy Beach, NSW 2097.
Phone (02) 9939 3295.
Fax (02) 9939 2648.
E-mail: silicon<at>siliconchip.com.au
ISSN 1030-2662
* Recommended and maximum price only.
4 Silicon Chip
Publisher’s Letter
Business energy use can be
greatly reduced
There has been much derision of the emissions
reduction target recently set by the Leader of the Opposition, Kevin Rudd. The target of a 60% reduction
by the year 2050 may seem steep, particularly as the
Australian economy and population will undoubtedly grow considerably over the next four decades.
But is a target of a 60% cut really so silly? The
typical domestic consumer may well be able to
reduce energy usage by that amount over a decade
or so but will business be able to do the same? That
is a huge topic and the first question that must be asked is: will the business
still be able to grow and increase employment? If employment is to increase,
it normally means that energy use must also increase. But say we decree that a
business must cut its energy use per employee by 60%? Would that be feasible?
The answer is: probably. However, a prerequisite for any energy cuts is that they
must not reduce staff safety, comfort and productivity.
I have been thinking about whether we at Silicon Chip Publications could
reduce our own energy use markedly. The answer has to be that we can make
major reductions, without even investing in new technology. Our building
certainly has not been designed with energy conservation in mind. While the
steel roof is insulated and does have a large passive extractor to vent excessive
heat from the warehouse, it still needs a big airconditioner to keep the office
area comfortable, particularly in summer. Hence, our main energy users are the
airconditioner, office & warehouse lighting, hot water system and computers.
Since moving in about 10 months ago, we have already made changes which
have resulted in major energy reductions compared with the previous occupants,
while not prejudicing comfort or safety in any way.
For example, I had an electrician do a lot of work in fixing and updating exit
lights, emergency lighting, re-tubing the lights in a separate factory warehouse
and so on. While he was doing that work, I had him set back the hot water system thermostats to 60°C, which is now a Worksafe requirement. This reduces
the risk of scalding, reduces power consumption and as bonus, the tanks will
probably last quite a bit longer.
I also had the warehouse light switching changed so that a bank of fluorescent
lights did not have to be left on all day – they were normally kept on so that
the kitchen and mailing areas were always lit. That amounts to a major saving
in energy over a year. As well, automatic door closers were fitted to two doors
so that hot or cold air from the warehouse did not blow into the airconditioned
office. The warehouse roller shutter and office entrance doors (also now fitted
with an automatic closer) are also kept closed all the time.
Overall, such modest changes have probably cut energy use by at least 50%
and we haven’t been really trying. Without drastic changes, we can probably
make a further significant reduction in power consumption from the office lighting while improving overall illumination. And it should not be hard to reduce
energy consumption of the computers in the future – laptops already use much
less power than desktop machines. With significant cuts in energy use from
lighting and computers, the summer airconditioning load will also be reduced.
In winter time, there may not be much benefit but you can see that reducing
energy use in the typical office is not rocket science.
Have a think about your own work-place and see if it would not be equally
easy to make reductions in energy use. You will probably be surprised at the
possibilities.
Leo Simpson
siliconchip.com.au
|