More than 1.1 billion people in developing countries lack access to electricity. Some 590 million live in Africa, where the rural electrification rate is particularly low at only 14%.

A lack of access to electricity hampers development. It affects everything from people’s ability to learn to the creation of enterprises and the provision of public services like health care. This lies behind the United Nation’s goal of countries achieving universal access to electricity by 2030.

But the investment requirements to meet this goal are enormous. According to the International Energy Agency investments worth $640 billion will be needed if the UN goal is going to be met. About $19 billion is required every year in sub-Saharan Africa alone.

In spite of the importance of electrification, little evaluation has been done on the socioeconomic impact of investments into providing power. We set about plugging this gap in our paper that focuses on Rwanda. We looked at the effects of electrification on households, firms, health centres and schools in rural areas.

Rwanda has implemented one of the most comprehensive electrification programmes in the world. In 2009 only 6% of Rwandans had access to electricity. The government’s aim is to lift this to 70% by 2018.

We studied the connection behaviour and electricity consumption patterns of households and looked at socioeconomic outcomes – such as education, income and health. We also explored the effects of electrification on the uptake of appliances as well as on rural firms and on health centres.

We found that electrification had wide-ranging effects on the living conditions of households whose daily lives were made easier on a range of fronts. We also found that the supply of power had some positive effects on certain businesses and clinics. Overall, our research confirms the importance of electrification has for the rural poor.

Yet, in our final analysis we had two major reservations. The first was that the provision of electricity hadn’t significantly improved the economic lives of people – which is often used to justify the massive costs involved in expanding the grid to all areas of the country.

The second insight was that, given people’s very low levels of consumption (households consume on average around 2 kWh per month per person which is less than 6% of the electricity an average US-American consumes per day), it would make much more sense to extend electricity coverage by promoting off-grid solutions such as solar. This would lead to governments and citizens getting much more bang for their buck.

These reservations aside, our research showed how electricity in the home changes lives, sometimes in the most unexpected ways.

Impact on household level

Among the households we studied we found that lighting consumption had more than tripled among connected households around two years after connecting to the electricity grid.

We also found that having electric lighting yielded significant benefits for households who have done away with torches, wick and hurricane lamps. For example, kids’ study time at home increased by between 19 and 44 minutes after nightfall, although the total time children study did not increase. The reason is that children shift their study time from daytime to nighttime, which nonetheless is an important indication for increased flexibility.

Electricity also had an impact on access to information. The most frequently bought electrical appliances after connection were TVs, radios and mobile phones.

Another major effect of electrification was that it significantly reduced expenditures on energy. The average amount that connected households spent on grid electricity was 1,500 FRW (about $2) per month after they had replaced traditional energy sources like kerosene and batteries. And they no longer needed to spend money on charging their mobile phones outside their homes. In total, they reduced expenditures on energy by around $2.50, which is an equivalent of about 4% of their total monthly expenditure.

Impacts on enterprises and health centres

Another major impact was that it extended people’s average waking hours by nearly an hour. We found that people were awake for 50 minutes per day more on average because they had better access to lighting and entertainment devices.

People didn’t necessarily use this additional time to pursue income generating activities. In fact, we didn’t find that electrification affected how people, many of whom were farmers, generated income.

We found that it had only a tiny effect on micro enterprises like mills, hairdressers, copy shops and welding shops. Mills were the main beneficiaries of being connected to the grid. Most switched from diesel engines to electricity. And new mills emerged because input costs were dramatically reduced and productivity increased.

Hairdressing shops also benefited for cost and convenience reasons. They used electricity for razors, phone charging services and radio or TV to entertain. Before grid electricity they had used power sources such as car batteries which were expensive and cost a lot to run.

Small kiosks, bars and restaurants mostly used electricity for lighting and in a few cases for radio, TV or refrigeration. Electricity meant that they were more attractive to customers.

Overall, we observed only a slight increase in business activities in connected communities. Some enterprises emerged while existing operations marginally extended their operating hours or their range of products and services.

In the case of health centres, those that had been connected to the grid said their work had improved. According to answers to an open question, the main use of grid electricity was for lighting (100%), followed by use for medical machines (79%) and for administrative tasks (43%). Nearly 30% cited medicine storage and sterilising.

The most important benefit was that it reduced costs. Centres that weren’t connected paid three times more for power because they used diesel.

A mixed solution

Our research showed that electricity is highly appreciated by rural communities in Rwanda, often leading to cost reductions and increases in convenience. But it does not significantly transform economic activities and income generation in rural areas.

The fact that electricity consumption levels are generally very low raises the political question of whether the high investment cost of on-grid electrification is justified compared to the lower cost of off-grid solutions. Especially the cost of off-grid solar technologies have decreased considerably in recent years and, while their performance is obviously lower, they still improve the living conditions quite substantially.

These observations suggest that instead of rolling out the grid to every rural village, on-grid investments could be concentrated in certain thriving rural regions with high business potential to create industrial zones where firms could relocate to. Off-grid solar could serve as a bridging technology for the majority of rural areas, potentially accompanied by subsidies to ensure access for the poor who cannot afford paying cost covering prices. Such an integrated on-grid-off-grid strategy would enable industrial development and at the same time achieve broad access to electricity at relatively low cost.

A BOOM in rooftop solar panels has led to risks to reliability and reduced call on power stations, thus pushing up prices, a new report shows.

THE biggest revolution in electricity supply is happening right on top of you, and it is only going to get bigger.

Rooftop solar power is expanding so rapidly it is lowering the demand for electricity from traditional sources and placing a death sentence on thermal electricity.

Coal might still be king in the power industry - currently providing some 48 per cent of our electricity needs nationally - but home-based solar is growing significantly.

And with that come problems such as risks to reliability and reduced call on power stations, thus pushing up prices.

That’s a finding in the review of electricity delivery in 2016-17 by industry policing agency the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC).

The review said household solar and energy-efficient household appliances would lower family power bills by cutting reliance on power generators.

The AEMC forecast that by 2035-36 NSW roofs would be generating more than 18.6 megawatts of electricity. That’s about 40 per cent of the total generated by the national network at present.

The AEMC warns this could produce a hollowing effect when solar generation ends at sundown and battery storage is inadequate to serve demand overnight.

“In terms of demand, increased rooftop PV (solar power) can exacerbate the difference in demand levels during the middle of the day, when PV output is at a maximum and therefore significantly reduces demand, and early evening, when PV output declines,” said the review.

“This can result in a ‘hollowing out’ of the typical daily demand curve.”

The review said increased battery storage could resolve the problem, but that reliance on power stations would be reinforced.

It said: “One potential implication of this is to smooth out the midday troughs and late afternoon peaks in the demand curve caused by solar PV without storage.

“Finally, the (AEMC) panel notes integrated PV and storage systems may also influence how customers value the reliability of the supply of electricity from the grid, as these systems may at least partly insulate households and small businesses from the impacts of interruptions in grid supply.”

The AEMC said the growth of solar would not remove the reliance on coal and gas-fired power generation.

Coal-fired power stations currently accounted for 65 per cent of electricity produced in Queensland, 62 per cent in NSW, and 42 per cent in Victoria.

Gas-fuelled generation produces 62 per cent of South Australia’s power.

However, the role of coal is shrinking.

“In 2016/17, 1808MW of (coal-powered) generation was formally withdrawn. The most significant withdrawal was the closure of the Hazelwood Power Station in Victoria,” said the review.

This represented three per cent of national generation.

The review reported: “It has been announced that 2064MW of generation will be withdrawn from the NEM by Mid-2022. All of the generation units announced for withdrawal are thermal, synchronous units.

“AGL has announced its intention to withdraw the Liddell Power Station (2000MW) in New South Wales in March 2022.

“Stanwell has announced its intention to withdraw the Mackay GT Power Station (34MW) in Queensland in July 2021.”

CASH-strapped households looking to ease energy bill shock are turning to prepaid plans to get ahead of their rising cost of living expenses.

CASH-strapped households looking to ease energy bill shock are turning to prepaid plans to get ahead of their rising cost of living expenses.

Bulk-buy energy deals are trickling into the market allowing households to pay for chunks of energy in advance and also snare discounts for paying ahead.

Smaller energy retailer Powershop’s bulk pack is already available in NSW, Queensland and Victoria and big energy retailer AGL recently rolled out prepaid deals for Victorian customers.

Analysis by financial comparison website Mozo shows the new AGL offer allows customers to receive bigger discounts for the larger amounts they pay in advance.

For instance for customers prepaying $50 they get a $10 credit, while for customers prepaying $100 they get a $30 credit.

Mozo spokeswoman Kirsty Lamont said these latest ways to pay could help struggling households minimise the burden of receiving a large quarterly bill while also being rewarded.

“These sorts of deals are likely to be something we see more and more of as energy retailers take a queue from the mobile phone industry and start to offer customers the option of prepaying,’’ she said.

“They can be a really useful tool for households who have struggled with energy bill shock in the past or scramble to find the money each quarter to pay a large energy bill.”

Instability attributed to changes in power mix that can leave grid at mercy of the weather.

The Australian Energy Market Commission says the national electricity grid is becoming more unstable, with 11 incidents in 2016-17, up from seven the year before and four the year before that.

The instability is attributed to changes in the power generation mix, with thermal, synchronous generators leaving the system in favour of more renewable capacity, which can leave the grid at the mercy of the weather.

The new assessment from the AEMC released on Tuesday comes as the Turnbull government’s prospects of securing agreement for its national energy guarantee have improved courtesy of Jay Weatherill’s departure as the South Australian premier after Saturday’s state election.

Weatherill led the resistance at the state level to the Turnbull proposal, which is supposed to address some of the problems in Australia’s electricity network by imposing new reliability and emissions reduction guarantees on energy retailers and large energy users from 2020.

The Energy Security Board is currently leading consultations with a range of stakeholders about the design of the policy, which will be considered next by federal and state energy ministers on 20 April.

While the Turnbull government has proposed the national energy guarantee as a mechanism to end the decade-long climate wars, the proposal remains contentious with stakeholders, including environment groups and analysts who argue it won’t deliver the scale of emissions reductions to ensure Australia conforms with our commitments under the Paris agreement.

New modelling from market analysts Reputex released on Monday also suggests the Turnbull government’s emissions reduction target for the electricity sector will be met thanks to state renewable energy targets – effectively rendering the federal proposal redundant in climate terms.

The AEMC has meanwhile released new reports taking stock of the reliability of the electricity system. It says system security issues have arisen as a consequence of less synchronous generation in the system and changes in the way generating units are being operated.

It says there has been a reduction in primary frequency control and associated degradation of the frequency distribution – which has implications across the grid.

The report notes that “over the last few years there has been a decreasing level of system inertia due to the withdrawal of synchronous thermal generation and increased penetration of non-synchronous generation” – a development that can “result in the failure of load or generation”.

The report says there were 11 incidents in 2016-17, including the statewide power blackout in South Australia.

It says the frequency operating standard was met for the mainland over the course of the year but the frequency operating standard was not met for Tasmania for seven months of the 2016/17 financial year.

It’s difficult to imagine life without the Internet. This incredibly important and powerful tool revolutionized nearly all aspects of human life, changing how we communicate, socialize, find love, become educated, find information, and consume entertainment.

The Internet began as this niche tool used among connected computers, but it wasn’t until the World Wide Web was introduced that its use would make the Internet more life what it is today—a complementary entity that turns mere network connections into an online world full of information (and memes). It is unlikely that the British scientist, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, would have an idea of how revolutionary the World Wide Web would be when he proposed it in March 1989.

The inspiration for the proposal came when Berners-Lee began working at CERN as a software engineer and wanted to come up with a solution that would make sharing information easier with scientists involved from all over the world. At the time, computers had to be accessed directly and often came with individual technical challenges like requiring knowledge of different computer languages. If you couldn't accomplish this on your own, you would need to find someone who could access that data for you, which was a mite harder before the internet because you had to physically find them.

Berners-Lee wrote a proposal called “Information Management: A Proposal”, in which he describes a system using an upcoming technology called hypertext. He described the Hyper-Text Mark-up Language (HTML) to format text and elements on the World Wide Web, a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) which is now more commonly known as a URL to uniquely identify pages on the World Wide Web, and the Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP), which manages the retrieval process for elements on the World Wide Web.

As with so many great ideas, the proposal was not taken seriously by his superiors, but Berners-Lee still was given opportunities to work on it. The first browser, web server, and web page became accessible in 1991 and he began inviting scientists to use it, then began making it accessible to individuals outside of CERN. He urged CERN to make the World Wide Web royalty-free so that it can be continued to be developed and used outside of the organization. And the rest is history.

Today, Berners-Lee is the founder and director of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), which continues to develop the WWW standards.

Eggs may soon fuel more than people in the morning. Researchers from the Osaka City University in Japan have developed a way to potentially use egg whites as a substrate to produce a carbon-free fuel.

They published their results on February 2nd in Applied Catalysis B.

"Hydrogen is a promising fuel and energy storage medium because hydrogen emits no global warming gas when used. Nevertheless, hydrogen generation reactions usually require fossil fuels and emit carbon dioxide," said Hiroyasu Tabe, a special appointment research associate at the Graduate School of Engineering at Osaka City University in Japan.

According to Tabe, it would be extremely efficient to use a photocatalyst to speed the reaction of hydrogen generation from a renewable source, such as solar power. Called hydrogen evolution, the gas must be stored and kept from recombining into more common molecules that aren't useful for producing clean fuel.

"Precise accumulation of molecules acting as catalytic components are important to construct a photocatalytic system," Tabe said. "When the molecular components are randomly distributed in the solution or formless compounds, the catalytic reactions cannot proceed."

One promising way to precisely accumulate these catalytic molecules is through the production of pure proteins by cultivated bacteria, but they require special lab equipment. Chicken eggs, however, are well-known vessels of protein-based chemicals, according to Tabe.

The whites of chicken eggs, which are inexpensive and inexhaustible, consist of porous lysozyme crystals.

"Lysozyme crystals have a highly ordered nanostructure and, thus, we can manipulate the molecular components when they accumulate in the crystals," Tabe said, noting that the crystal structure can be easily analyzed with X-ray technology.

This analysis is of particular importance, according to Tabe, because the molecular components within the crystals must be manipulated precisely through what is called cooperative immobilization. This is achieved by the application of rose bengal, which is commonly used as a dye in eye drops to identify damage. In this case, it entered the solvent channels in the lysozyme crystals and accelerated the hydrogen evolution reaction, since the functional molecules and nanoparticles can be accumulated within the crystals' inner spaces.

"These results suggest that porous protein crystals are promising platforms to periodically and rationally accumulate catalytic components by using molecular interactions," Tabe said.

Engineers have for the first time developed a method to safely charge a smartphone wirelessly using a laser.

Although mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones let us communicate, work and access information wirelessly, their batteries must still be charged by plugging them in to an outlet. But engineers at the University of Washington have for the first time developed a method to safely charge a smartphone wirelessly using a laser.

As the team reports in a paper published online in December in the Proceedings of the Association for Computing Machinery on Interactive, Mobile, Wearable & Ubiquitous Technologies, a narrow, invisible beam from a laser emitter can deliver charge to a smartphone sitting across a room -- and can potentially charge a smartphone as quickly as a standard USB cable. To accomplish this, the team mounted a thin power cell to the back of a smartphone, which charges the smartphone using power from the laser. In addition, the team custom-designed safety features -- including a metal, flat-plate heatsink on the smartphone to dissipate excess heat from the laser, as well as a reflector-based mechanism to shut off the laser if a person tries to move in the charging beam's path.

"Safety was our focus in designing this system," said co-author Shyam Gollakota, an associate professor in the UW's Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering. "We have designed, constructed and tested this laser-based charging system with a rapid-response safety mechanism, which ensures that the laser emitter will terminate the charging beam before a person comes into the path of the laser."

Gollakota and co-author Arka Majumdar, a UW assistant professor of physics and electrical engineering, led the team that designed this wireless charging system and its safety features.

"In addition to the safety mechanism that quickly terminates the charging beam, our platform includes a heatsink to dissipate excess heat generated by the charging beam," said Majumdar. "These features give our wireless charging system the robust safety standards needed to apply it to a variety of commercial and home settings."

The charging beam is generated by a laser emitter that the team configured to produce a focused beam in the near-infrared spectrum. The safety system that shuts off the charging beam centers on low-power, harmless laser "guard beams," which are emitted by another laser source co-located with the charging laser-beam and physically "surround" the charging beam. Custom 3-D printed "retroreflectors" placed around the power cell on the smartphone reflect the guard beams back to photodiodes on the laser emitter. The guard beams deliver no charge to the phone themselves, but their reflection from the smartphone back to the emitter allows them to serve as a "sensor" for when a person will move in the path of the guard beam. The researchers designed the laser emitter to terminate the charging beam when any object -- such as part of a person's body -- comes into contact with one of the guard beams. The blocking of the guard beams can be sensed quickly enough to detect the fastest motions of the human body, based on decades of physiological studies.

"The guard beams are able to act faster than our quickest motions because those beams are reflected back to the emitter at the speed of light," said Gollakota. "As a result, when the guard beam is interrupted by the movement of a person, the emitter detects this within a fraction of a second and deploys a shutter to block the charging beam before the person can come in contact with it."

The next generation of nano-scale optical devices are expected to operate with Gigahertz frequency, which could reduce the shutter's response time to nanoseconds, added Majumdar.

The beam charges the smartphone via a power cell mounted on the back of the phone. A narrow beam can deliver a steady 2W of power to 15 square-inch area from a distance of up to 4.3 meters, or about 14 feet. But the emitter can be modified to expand the charging beam's radius to an area of up to 100 square centimeters from a distance of 12 meters, or nearly 40 feet. This extension means that the emitter could be aimed at a wider charging surface, such as a counter or tabletop, and charge a smartphone placed anywhere on that surface.

The researchers programmed the smartphone to signal its location by emitting high-frequency acoustic "chirps." These are inaudible to our ears, but sensitive enough for small microphones on the laser emitter to pick up.

"This acoustic localization system ensures that the emitter can detect when a user has set the smartphone on the charging surface, which can be an ordinary location like a table across the room," said co-lead author Vikram Iyer, a UW doctoral student in electrical engineering.

When the emitter detects the smartphone on the desired charging surface, it switches on the laser to begin charging the battery.

"The beam delivers charge as quickly as plugging in your smartphone to a USB port," said co-lead author Elyas Bayati, a UW doctoral student in electrical engineering. "But instead of plugging your phone in, you simply place it on a table."

To ensure that the charging beam does not overheat the smartphone, the team also placed thin aluminum strips on the back of the smartphone around the power cell. These strips act as a heatsink, dissipating excess heat from the charging beam and allowing the laser to charge the smartphone for hours. They even harvested a small amount of this heat to help charge the smartphone -- by mounting a nearly-flat thermoelectric generator above the heatsink strips.

The researchers believe that their robust safety and heat-dissipation features could enable wireless, laser-based charging of other devices, such as cameras, tablets and even desktop computers. If so, the pre-bedtime task of plugging in your smartphone, tablet or laptop may someday be replaced with a simpler ritual: placing it on a table.

In a pokey evidence room at the offices of Melbourne's Metropolitan Fire Brigade, you'll find a museum of deceptively dangerous electrical appliances.

Stacked in black evidence boxes and pushed into corners are singed versions of ordinary household items. There is a notable collection of oil heaters in varying scorched states – the chief suspects in a number of fires.

While we may enjoy a trusted relationship with our electrical gadgets and machines, the experience of fire investigators suggests we should not be so nonchalant about the dangers they pose.

In Melbourne last year there were more than 450 house fires caused by faulty electrical appliances, heaters, laptops and other portable devices, including mobile phones left charging and unattended.

Photos taken later by investigators tell a frightening story. There's a baked, black patch on a bed, with an unnatural, lava-like texture.

Metropolitan Fire Brigade fire investigator Steve Attard said the lithium-ion batteries of mobile phones had ignited in a number of cases.

Mr Attard said it was a common mistake to take a phone or laptop to bed and leave it charging while sleeping. Teenagers would even place their connected phone under their pillow so they could hear it vibrating during the night.

"There's a bit of an issue with people being too trusting and too reliant on their electrical devices," he said.

To see the lighter side of the electrical industry, we’ve compiled a list of jokes to brighten up your day!

1. What do electricians call a power outage?

A: A current event

2. Q: What do you call an electrician who tries to work as a carpenter?

A: A bad electrician

Q: What do you call a carpenter who tries to work as an electrician?

A: A dead carpenter

3. Q: How tall is a union electrician?

A: Don’t know. I’ve never seen one of them stand up to do something.

4. Q: What’s the difference between God and an electrician?

A: God doesn’t think he’s an electrician.

5. Chief electrical engineer: “You told me you’d have this job finished in 3 days.”

Engineer: “I didn’t say it would be 3 consecutive days.”

6. His first Christmas, the engineer gave his mother-in-law an electric toothbrush. The next Christmas, he gave her an electric blanket. On the third, he gave her an electric carving knife. Yep, he’s working his way up to the electric chair.

7. New engineer: “How do you estimate how long it will take to do a project from start to finish?”

Longtime engineer: “I add up how long it takes to complete each task, then multiply the sum by pi.”

New engineer: “Why pi?”

Longtime engineer: “To make sure all my budgets are irrational.”

8. One manager was bragging to another. “I have a great new electrician working for me. Last week I gave him a project and he stayed up for 4 straight days, completed the circuit board design, finished the bill of materials, and everything was perfect. Monday morning the client called and was thrilled with the results.”

His friend asked, “So how far ahead of schedule did he finish?”

The manager said, “Ahead of schedule? Who ever heard of an electrician finishing ahead of schedule?”

9. What’s fried, gray, and hangs from the ceiling?

A: An electrician apprentice who didn’t listen

10. Electricians never die.

They just do it til it Hertz.

11. Did you hear about the electrician who wore two jackets when painting the house?

The instructions said, “For best results, put on two coats.”

12. An evil genie captured an electrician and two of her friends. Before banishing them to the desert for a week, the genie allowed each person to bring one thing. The first friend brought a canteen so he wouldn’t die of thirst. The second friend brought an umbrella to keep from getting sunburned. The electrician brought a car door, because if it got too hot she could just roll down the window!

13. What does one electrician say to another when they run into each other out in public?

A: Watt’s up!!

14. These electrician jokes are lame. Don’t you have some more current ones?

15. Several electricians were working outside my new house while I mopped the floors. Just minutes after I finsihed, one asked to use my bathroom. I couldn’t say no, but his boots were caked with mud and my floors were so clean. “Just a minute,” I said, “I’ll put down newspapers.”

His response, “That’s all right, lady. I’m already trained.”

16. A man who was hard of hearing was going on a tour of a power plant. He arrived late and had to join the rest of the group already on the tour. The man was reviewing what he had just told the group. He told the group that they wouldn’t move on until they answered this one question: What is the unit of power equal to one joule per second called?” The man with the hearing problem hadn’t heard the question very well, so he raised his hand and asked “What?” (Note: What = Watt, for those who are not electricians)

17. Did you hear about the old electrician who liked to have a little fun with apprentices?

On their first day together, he would put on a wig with hair that appeared to be zapped with energy and pretend to stick his finger in a socket. It never got old.

18. An old electrician was trying to make a pre-apprentice laugh. Nothing worked. He finally said, “I give up. I guess my jokes are just too old. I need some that are more current.”

19. A journeyman asked an apprentice to name two types of transformers.

His answer: Decepticons and Autobots

20. An electrician was working on the power at an ice cream factory. With a giant spark, everything blew. The company’s gone into liquidation.21.A young electrician goes to the doctor and says, “Every morning I step out my front door and start walking to work and before I get very far I get what feels like an electric shock from the pavement. The doctor asks,”How often does this happen?”

The electrician answers,” It can be as much as three times on the way there and the same on the way back home”. The doctor says, “Don’t worry about it. It’s just a phase you’re going through.”

21. An older electrician was dying. Just before he slipped away, he told his nephew, an electrical apprentice.

“Remember, with great power comes great current squared times resistance.”

22. After spending hours trying to fix the light switch, the electrician was frustrated and gave up. Before leaving, he took a big marker and wrote off at the top of the switch and on at the bottom.

23. How did his crew know the electrical foreman was dead?

A: The donut rolled out of his hand.

24. A plumber, a pipefitter, and a carpenter walk into a bar. The electrician ducks

25. For a family photo, the electrican pulled on his favorite shirt. It said, “I’m an electrician. To save time, let’s just assume I am never wrong.”

26. How do you know how if an electrician is working with AC or DC power?

A: If it’s AC, his teeth chatter when he grabs the conductors. If it’s DC, they just clamp together.

27. An electrician was working on a car wash project that involved driving ground rods and running ground wire before setting a pre-cast utility transformer pad in place. He forgot to bring his ground rod driver and decided to improvise. He borrowed a post driver from a contractor. All was going fine until the 8-foot rod was about 4 feet into the ground. The rod caught on the bottom edge of the driver. The electrician was leaning into it, transferring all his downward force to the driver. It came back and hit him in the head. Not to be deterred, he swung the driver again. The top of the driver cut his forehead open.

THERE’S A MORAL TO THIS STORY: Always use the right equipment.

28. How many electricians does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

A: One, just hold the bulb up and the whole world revolves around him.

29. At the end of the day, the old apprentice called the new kid over and said, “Don’t forget to stop by the shop on your way home and fill out the id10t form.”

The kid looked confused and asked him to write it down, so he didn’t forget the name of the form. After driving an hour out of the way, he walks into the office and asks the secretary for the ID 10T form. She’s confused, so he hands her the piece of paper. She, and the rest of the office staff laughed him right out the door.

30. The new apprentice went over to the tool room after he was told by the foreman to go get a wrench. The lady in the room asked him what kind of wrench.

He answered, “I don’t know. He just said a wrench. Are there different kinds?” She sent him back with a 36-inch pipe wrench. A few minutes later he was back. He never forgot to ask what kind of wrench again.

31. A lady called an electrician to repair her doorbell. He didn’t show up for 4 days. The lady called back.

The electrician replied, “Lady, I’ve been coming out there for 4 days. I press the bell and nobody comes.”

32. And God said ‘Let there be light’ and there was light.

But the electricity board said he would have to wait until Thursday to be connected.” – Spike Milligan

33. Old electrician receives a call about a room that wasn’t wired properly.

He arrives and asks, “What makes you think this room wasn’t wired properly?” The homeowner flips a switch and sparks start flying, his eyes bulge, and his hair frizzes out. The electrician says, “Well, you might be right.”

34. Brothers and sisters are natural enemies, just like electricians and plumbers, electricians and engineers, and electricians and electricians.

35. Where do electricians get their supplies?

A: The Ohm Depot

36. An electrician got home at 4am. His wife asks him, “Wire you insulate?”

He replies, “Watt’s it to you? I’m Ohm, aren’t I?”

37. An electrician finished repairing some faulty wiring in an attorney’s home and handed him the bill.

”Four hundred dollars! For one hour of work?” shouts the attorney. ”That’s crazy! I’m an attorney and even I don’t charge that much.”

The electrician replies, ”Funny, when I was an attorney I didn’t either!”

38. What kind of car did the electrician drive?

A: A Volts-wagon

39. A superconductor entered a bar. The bartender shouted, “Get out of here! We don’t serve your kind.”

The superconductor left without resistance.

40. Paddy, an electrician, was sacked by the U.S. Prison Service for refusing to repair an electric chair.

He said in his opinion, the chair was a f*%#^!% death trap.

PHOTO https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSFLbP7K8PSughMCDSttcJix_QUAgc2GaizEiYAp1ToDhE4BQl7YA

41. What’s an electrician’s favorite ice cream flavor?

A: Shock-o-late

42. Whenever my dad goes out in public, he advertises his services by wearing a shirt that says “Call me an electrician, and I’ll repair what your husband fixed.”

43. What’s another name for an electrical apprentice?

A: A shock absorber

44. What was the electrician/ detective’s name?

A: Sherlock Ohms

45. How does an electrician know a dead battery in a pile of good ones?

A: It’s lost its spark.

46. Sitting at the union hall, an electrician was reminiscing about his favorite moment. He said, “Years ago, I had a new helper that boasted that he had 2 1/2 years experience. After working with him for a day, I could tell either he hadn’t learned anything in his 2 1/2 years or he was very green. We were working on a 6 story motel project with tons of MC pulling. the next morning, I told him I needed the only MC bender we had and sent him off to look for it. He managed to ask every electrician on the jobsie one by one. They all caught on and sent him to the next guy. He returned in 45 minutes saying it must be lost. I grabbed a piece of MC and bent a 90 and said “I found it” He quit a few days later because nobody could stop laughing at him every time they saw him.”

47. What did the electrician get on his general foreman exam?

A: Slobber

48. The Smith’s were proud of their family tradition. Their ancestors had come to America on the Mayflower. They had included Senators and Wall Street wizards.

The family decided to compile a family history, a legacy for their children and grandchildren. They hired a fine author. Only one problem arose – how to handle that great-uncle George, an electrician who was executed in the electric chair.

The author said he could handle the story tactfully.

The book appeared. It said “Great-uncle George occupied a chair of applied electronics at an important government institution, was attached to his position by the strongest of ties, and his death came as a great shock.”

49. Two electricians were on the roof of a barn running power to it from a nearby pole when their ladder blew down. No one was around and they didn’t have a phone, so they started looking around to see if there was another way down. On one end of the barn, there was a pile of manure, but they couldn’t tell how deep it was. One said to the other, ”I think we could jump in that manure and it would break our fall.” The other one replied, “Go ahead if you want to, but I think I’ll keep looking for another way.”

A couple minutes later he could hear his buddy yelling, “It’s ok. It’s only ankle deep!” The second guy decides to go for it and takes the leap, but he sinks up to his neck. As he wades out of the pile covered from head to toe with sh1t, his buddy comes around the corner. “I thought you said it was only ankle deep” he yelled. The other electrician says, “Well it is if you land head first like I did.”

50. The wife asked her husband “What are you reading darling?”

A: It’s a quote from the electrician, he said $300 should cover the cost of him coming to laugh at us.

That’s a Wrap!

Fun Fact: Did you know that a master electrician trains for almost as long as a doctor? That’s right. While this may be known as a blue collar career, it takes a lot of work.

While residential building clients everywhere continue to bemoan that building trades are dragging their feet on sustainability, there’s a boom in the environmental credentials of sparkies, thanks to the one thing they can’t argue with: consumer demand.

Demand for renewable energy and energy management is driving a surge of business for electrical trades people, according to the national association for electrical contractors.

“The noise in the market is fantastic at the moment,” National Electrical Contractors’ Association EcoSmart manager Michael D’Costa says.

Consumers are the push factor. Householders that have had solar for the past 10-15 years are now getting in touch with the association, wanting to know how they can get battery storage.

February is a big month for enquiries, as the bills from Christmas have been rolling in and people are looking to save on ever-rising energy costs, he says.

“People panic in February.”

D’Costa says that whether or not grant programs are available is not affecting demand, however the programs get people talking about renewable energy storage.

Where businesses aren’t growing, he says, it could be because they have not yet come onboard with energy management and energy efficiency.

“If all they are offering is LED lighting, they are 10 years behind.”

Over the next decade, the trade is going to require skilled people across numerous new technological innovations.

Digital-addressable lighting, or DALI systems, for example, which are currently finding a niche in high-end commercial and high-end luxury residential buildings, are likely to become standard across emergency lighting in all building types – including regular detached dwellings.

Another area where tradespeople in the sector may need to grow their skills is in “soft skills” such as selling, and engaging well with clients.

“That is something NECA discusses regularly,” D’Costa says.

Consumers driving demand

According to the D’Costa the pattern of take up of new energy technology is contrast to regular patterns, where the commercial sector is usually in the vanguard, the industrial users start to engage, and domestic users bring up the rear.

“The last few years it has been the other way around.”

In fact the industrial sector has actually been “pretty quiet” for the past few years in terms of new technology uptake. Partly this is because much of the work to reduce energy use and improve the quality of energy supply has already been done over the past 15 years. This includes initiatives such as power factor correction, voltage optimisation, surge protection and energy harmonisation technologies.

In the commercial sector, installing solar is now a “no brainer”, but there is still a significant opportunity to increase uptake.

It makes sense for people to generate electricity where they spend the bulk of their day, such as in commercial buildings, D’Costa says. That is a clear pathway to reducing overall demand on the grid.

High-temperature electricity without resistance could revolutionise electronics.....

It could take less energy to move electric charge, meaning better-performing, more-efficient electronics that are cheaper to run. It could cut down on energy costs, and might even help researchers realise better quantum computers. Scientists have gotten a step closer with a little "magic" twist.

A team of researchers from MIT, Harvard, and the National Institute for Materials Sciences in Japan have created a whole new kind of superconductor from two sheets of single-atom-thick, two-dimensional carbon, called graphene. Superconductors are systems where electrons can travel unimpeded and without applied voltage. But these new systems seem to operate outside the conventional rules of superconductors and turn on their properties with just a slight twist. This took the researchers by surprise.

"It was a very unexpected discovery, having worked with graphene for a long time," Pablo Jarillo-Herrero, scientist at MIT behind two new studies exploring these properties, told Gizmodo. He noted that the system had "very similar characteristics to high-temperature superconductors that remain to be understood".

The carbon atoms in each sheet of graphene are located at each corner of a tessellation of hexagon. If you stack two sheets on top of one another and slowly twist one sheet, the hexagons begin to form Moire patterns, larger-scale patterns based on the overlapping spaces, like this:

A small twist, or as the researchers call it, a "magic" angle of around 1.1 degrees, essentially confuses the system into thinking that each unit hexagon is much larger. Check out the first second of the above video to see what I mean. This changes where electrons are most likely to be located.

At first, the system looked like a Mott insulator, a system whose inter-particle interactions prevents the electrons from moving. But adding an electric field and a little more charge turned the system into a superconductor. The team published two papers on the discovery this week in Nature.

Normally, superconductors are solids that have reached an ultra-cold critical temperature where electrons begin to pair up. These pairs give the electrons new properties that allow them to travel without resistance through the system. But other so-called "unconventional" superconductors, like these stacked sheets, don't follow these rules.

Scientists have been studying non-conventional superconductors for a long time. Many hope to find something that can efficiently move electric charge without wasting a lot of energy and money to cool the system all the way to the coldest possible temperatures. Some have observed high-temperature superconductivity in certain materials that contain oxygen and copper, called "cuprates". These work at higher, but still very cold, temperatures, around -130C.

The graphene sheets still required temperatures around 1.7 degrees above absolute zero, -456.6 F, to demonstrate superconductivity. But slightly twisting a 2D sheet is a much easier-to-study system than the variety of cuprates.

"To explore this physics, normally you need 100 devices," said Jarillo-Herrero. "Here, you can do it in one device you can control electrically. That's what we did that's most amazing. All of this is in a single device." And he thinks there's far more to be done in other systems of slightly-twisted, two-dimensional sheets.

Others are pretty excited about this new work. "It really is just showing us that this platform is so rich with new physics and new possible applications that we have to keep going," physicist Angela Hight Walker from the National Institute of Standards and Technology told Gizmodo. She pointed out that others have looked at the effects of twisting 2D materials before, but this is the first time she'd seen something quite like this, where superconductivity seems to switch on and off with a tiny twist.

Hight Walker pointed out that some researchers worry about graphene potentially being overhyped, causing people to lose interest in it in the United States. "But this shows that there is still so much to learn and so many possible applications that we can't stop researching."

Wi-Fi has become ubiquitous in daily life and most employees never give it a second thought.

In this day and age, people simply expect the network to be available, fast, stable, consistent and secure, whether they are at their own desk in the office, roaming around the workspace or participating in a video conference or face-to-face meeting. With the added dimension of bring your own device (BYOD) schemes, employees also expect the Wi-Fi network to be equally accessible to all platforms and device types.

While employees have their own expectations, organisations need the corporate network to support and enable their business aims, letting employees make the most of their skills and experience and, above all, supporting them to get their work done.

More than that, it needs to be able to protect sensitive data on customers, prospects, employees and intellectual property, and provide seamless, secure connectivity. There are seven ways the changing workplace is impacting Wi-Fi networks.

Employee expectations

The consumer experience of sitting in cafes and other public hotspots has taught employees to expect seamless ‘go anywhere’ networking. Yet while the occasional slow patch or drop-off might be acceptable in a crowded cafe or at a railway station or airport, they are major irritants and obstacles in the workplace. The corporate Wi-Fi network needs to be faster, better, more reliable, more secure, more consistent and more robust than a public Wi-Fi hotspot, and failure to provide these superior levels of service may turn the workplace into a ‘notspot’ for employees.

BYOD and different devices

BYOD schemes are a further consideration in wireless site design. BYOD lets staff work more flexibly, intuitively and productively from their preferred platforms and devices, while minimising the organisation’s capital expenditure and the constant upgrade cycle of fast-depreciating hardware and software. However, upfront planning and design are essential for successfully integrating different types of devices with the corporate WLAN, which also demands real insight into Wi-Fi capacity and coverage. Understanding the devices themselves is equally important. Overall, organisations need to be in the driving seat of this more employee-centric view of communications and IT.

Wi-Fi trends

More and more workplaces solely offer Wi-Fi access. However, all Wi-Fi networks still end in a wire. This last and least visible part of the network is, traditionally, the least well served by many network monitoring and management tools. That, too, is a challenge for IT professionals, who need access to dedicated, expert tools and to follow professional best practices. The trend towards Wi-Fi-only access will likely continue, now that the 802.11ac high-speed networking standard offers multistation connectivity at data transfer speeds of up to one gigabit per second. The standard is gaining traction in many workplaces, where data volumes and speeds can only rise in the years ahead. But faster access and throughput also means the risk of faster and more extensive data breaches if IT professionals and network engineers fail to consider the full security implications of unmonitored access.

New application types

The rise of free services, such as Skype, and of affordable unified communications and collaboration (UC&C) applications and platforms, demands fast, reliable networking for data, voice, video, social and ‘shared space’ functions. Such UC&C tools are increasingly popular and help organisations save costs, collapse distance, unlock skills and create a more cohesive environment for geographically dispersed team members. Other application types are on the rise, too, including cloud-based enterprise suites and dashboards, big data analytics and applications associated with smart environments and the Internet of Things. This means that organisations need to design wireless sites to cope with a significant ramping up of data volumes, speeds and throughput in the future.

Quality of service (QoS)

Another challenge is the increased network complexity needed in order to provide end-to-end QoS in UC&C so that real-time apps can be merged with data applications: a tough call in an era of multiple wide-area carriers and peering agreements. Failure to address these needs, and to incorporate them upfront in world-class wireless site design, could have costly, embarrassing consequences. These could include conferencing sessions that don’t work, poor connections, jittery service and other problems that may cause a loss of confidence in the organisation.

The physical office

The built environment can be complex, challenging and full of obstacles and signal blockers such as thick walls, mirrors, metal surfaces, complex electrics, kitchen areas, legacy installations or rogue access points. While some businesses are in a stand-alone premises dedicated to a single organisation, most share a building. Security in a shared premises full of other organisations, visitors, customers and prospects is not as simple as just setting a password and hoping for the best. The corporate network has to be designed for the real world, not just the virtual one.

Temporary networks

A world-class network is not always built to be permanent. For example, major conferences, functions and trade shows are expensive, high-profile events, often with millions of dollars of business at stake, not to mention corporate reputations. Today, such events stand or fall on the quality, accessibility, speed, reliability and security of the wireless network.

All of this demands that the organisation has real insight into how the wireless network is performing from day to day, as well as how best it can be designed in the first place. It should be designed not only for today’s capacity but also for future workloads, including UC&C tools, rich media, big data, the Internet of Things and in-depth analytics.

Safe Work Australia’s latest statistics show that the electricity, gas, water and waste services industries ranked fifth worst on the list of worker deaths by industry of workplace in year-to-date 2017.

Working with electricity has always been dangerous, that’s the reason we have such rigorous training and licensing standards across the country. While these statistics represent a marginal improvement on the same time period last year, every death is one too many.

Whether the energy network is expanding or ageing, keeping people safe during work is the most important part of any electrical company’s business — be it their employees, their customers or the public.

So what are the latest advancements and how can we use technology to improve safety for electrical workers?

Training tools

Newer and smarter tools and training techniques are being used to reduce human error. There’s no doubt that proper training mechanisms help reduce human error and save lives.

In Gartner’s top 10 strategic technology trends for 2017, the research firm predicted that immersive technologies such as virtual and augmented reality will dramatically transform the way individuals interact with each other and with software over the next five years. We are already seeing a rise in enterprise uptake of this technology for training and safety purposes today. Virtual reality and augmented reality applications are improving safety by providing visual, easy-to-understand, step-by-step directions that can guide operators and field crews through tasks, including displaying energised parts in the equipment.

Simulator-based training, which is already being used in the utility industry, is continuing to evolve and grow in sophistication and scope, particularly with the leaps in virtual reality technology. Virtual reality training, currently being provided in some industries, uses a computer-generated 3D environment where employees can test and train within a realistic, controlled setting.

For example, operators can learn to use complex equipment, practice safety procedures, familiarise themselves with the layout of a plant or even simulate dangerous situations (without the consequences of failure) so they can react quickly in a real-life situation. In virtual reality, you can touch live parts such as busbars without a fatal electric shock.

Sensors and analytics

In the past, businesses have been faced with exponential costs for achieving total control over risks in their electrical networks; thankfully this has changed of late with the integration of modern digital technology. This has been seen at the utility level, where the safety of electrical workers is being improved by breaking down silos.

An integration of millions of data points has driven the industry towards greater visibility and better decision-making in order to improve safety of operations. This same digital technology, primarily sensors and analytics, is now being integrated into every aspect of work, by utilities. It not only improves safety, but also boosts security, guarantees interoperability, lowers costs, streamlines operations and saves money for utilities and its customers.

Most importantly, from a safety point of view, the integration of sensors and analytics means that it’s easier to identify and analyse patterns of events that lead to accidents, making it easier to prevent, detect and resolve potentially dangerous circumstances before they arise.

In addition to the collection of these data points through sensors, advanced analytics are essential to understanding and actioning the data collected. For example, by correlating data from vibrations, temperature and voltage, algorithms can inform operators of a deviation towards a dangerous operating zone before any unnoticed defect leads to a possible catastrophic equipment failure such as a transformer fire or a turbine blow-up.

Intelligent equipment

Intelligent equipment and remote operations allow for better monitoring and safer activities. For instance, smart technology can track energy usage and identify usage spikes that could indicate a public safety hazard. Sensor networks also allow utilities to quickly detect abnormal situations and immediately start containment measures.

Operators can be protected using technology that allows them to work from a remote location, for example mitigate arc flash hazards. No matter how well trained workers are, they will always be safer, operating equipment from a distance. While these are only a few examples of modern technology improving safety in the electrical industry, these technological changes are just the beginning.

Employees’ tasks are becoming increasingly varied, and purely desk-based work is often mixed with creative, communicative tasks. Global lighting group Zumtobel, in association with the Fraunhofer IAO Stuttgart, has gathered some interesting insights on office lighting from a global user study.

The studies involving over 2000 participants have showed that 77% of people prefer neutral white lighting colours (4000–5000K). More than 60% of the participants said they would prefer to work with an illuminance of 800 lx or more. However, normative planning is limited to only 500 lx in offices.

The results highlight the importance of office lighting and focus on human needs — both as a factor creating immediate added value and in order to increase the attractiveness of working environments. Also to strengthen the employees’ loyalty towards the company. The findings are expected to help industry professionals improve their understanding of the different needs of various groups of employees. It is also expected to help increase the perceived lighting quality to a much greater extent, beyond existing limits and standards in future lighting projects.

Treating light in an office space as part of a holistic lighting ecosystem means that it can be actively used to improve employee wellbeing and boost creative potential. In the set of questions regarding layout of their workplace, as many as 30% of study participants indicated poor alignment of their workstation with respect to the window; 82% of survey participants indicated that they prefer a lighting solution with combined direct/indirect components.

However, only 38% have this type of lighting solution in their workplace. Moreover, study participants with direct/indirect lighting above their workstation had a much more positive assessment of their wellbeing than participants with purely direct lighting. The survey revealed that very few offices offer employees the chance to adjust the lighting to meet their individual needs. 81% of survey participants reported limited or often no opportunity to control the lighting situation at their workplace. However, the better the options to adjust the lighting, the more satisfied the employees are and the higher they rate their wellbeing.

LEDs were most favourably rated by the survey participants. As regards the preferences for colour temperatures in the office, these are distributed heterogeneously between 3000 and 7000K. However, the users’ preference for the range between 4000 and 5000K is by far the most marked. Due to the uniform distribution, differentiation by the specific user groups does not make sense. Almost 57% of all employees stated that they are not able to adjust their office lighting to their individual needs and variable work settings, or are only able to do so to a limited extent. Restricted user access and insufficient options for adjustment correlate with a clearly poorer assessment of lighting quality and wellbeing. Study participants that are able to control their own lighting also had a higher assessment of their personal wellbeing.

What is remarkable is that in the interactive part of the study, more than 60% of survey participants chose illuminance levels of 800 lx or higher. This result exceeds the recommendations in the currently applicable standards and guidelines with their respective minimum levels for the lighting of computer workstations. Independent of the season, the lighting remains constantly switched on in many offices throughout the day. 72% of the study participants said that the lighting in their office is operated for in excess of six hours per day over wintertime. Almost one-third of the people surveyed said this is also true in spring and summer.

Both natural daylight and artificial light affect humans on three distinct levels. Light supports perception in visual terms, light plays an emotional role by influencing our moods and light is biologically significant because it is directly connected to a wide range of physiological processes. Over the course of 24 hours, light is a subtle companion, meeting the diverse demands of a modern life in leisure time and in the workplace, indoor and outdoors. Optimum light is just as important for health, motivation and performance as it is for the completion of specific tasks.

Discovery of a new kind of receptor in the human eye has added a fresh dimension to our understanding of the effect that light has on wellbeing, mood and general health. It was only shortly after the start of the new millennium that light-sensitive ganglion cells on the retina, which incorporate the light-absorbing pigment melanopsin, started to appear on the radar of mainstream science. The ganglion cells containing melanopsin have their highest sensitivity in the low-wavelength spectral range and are therefore particularly receptive to blue light. These discoveries have served to emphasise the key role played by natural light during the course of the day and the year, for both humans and nature. The elementary relationship with nature is not just reflected in these physical connections.

Social psychologists at the University of Bretagne-Sud in France have gone as far as suggesting that the weather situation has an impact on human behaviour. When the sun is shining, we are more open, more confident and more likely to share our telephone number with someone than when the weather is dull and wet. It is also interesting to note that even something as simple as a good weather forecast has a positive effect on the size of the tip that people leave. The shining sun or the pouring rain can therefore have a direct influence on social behaviour and issues of personal finance.

Today, people in industrialised countries spend around 80% of the day inside — with reduced exposure to the essential dynamics of natural light. Lighting technology innovation in recent years has made major strides in terms of generation, distribution and control, greatly expanding the raft of possibilities offered by artificial lighting design. Active Light from Zumtobel opens up this potential and takes into account the special relationship between humans and light. Natural light is the model for Active Light, which blends subtle changes in light colour, intensity and direction at the right time and for the right activity, helping put the crucial lighting dynamics back into everyday life in a range of different applications.

In this way, Active Light is said to provide optimal support for the human biorhythm. The default illuminance of 500 lx at the workplace stipulated by the standards is often perceived as insufficient, demonstrating how the lighting level should be increased for specific activities or at certain times of day. Zumtobel’s technology like tunableWhite can integrate changing light colours into the lighting scenario as a highly effective design element.

That means cold-white lighting moods until early afternoon, followed by lower-intensity warmer light hues as evening approaches. New possibilities in terms of digitalisation and controls also open up further opportunities, helping the light of the future automatically adapt to particular tasks and respond spontaneously to gestures and groups of people.

The ability to connect one device to another is a simple concept that’s making a huge difference.

While much has been made of this phenomenon in both the home and urban centres (in the form of smart homes and smart cities), the full potential of the Internet of Things (IoT) revolution is yet to be realised in the foundation of cities — buildings.

Underpinned by a market push towards an ‘always on’ digital economy, the IoT is infiltrating all types of companies across a range of industries, including education, health, mining, construction and utilities. As the role of IoT and demand for round-the-clock connectivity has grown, so too has the importance of electrical distribution systems.

From lighting and HVAC to automated machinery and conveyor belts, these days virtually everything relies upon electricity to operate. Put simply, electrical distribution systems are the backbone of all modern businesses because without this vital equipment, everything stops.

Whilst it’s recognised facility managers of today are under mounting pressure to increase productivity, drive revenue and reduce costs, what is less considered is the maintenance of the systems that support this crucial equipment. Indeed, as businesses focus on driving efficiencies through the implementation of automated devices, IoT and other electronically powered solutions maintenance can fall by the wayside due to competing resources.

Out of sight, out of mind

Despite powering the machines and systems responsible for key processes, electrical distribution systems are often overlooked. When they’re not cared for, the systems become stressed, leading to malfunctions and system breakdown; continuity is disrupted, a specialised team is called in to carry out repairs, spare parts and labour are (more often than not) sold at a premium and costs fly through the roof. The consequent impact of business downtime can result in devastating loss of profits.

The bad news is that repercussions are not only financial. When electrical distribution systems are neglected, the probability of an accident increases, bringing about a host of OHS concerns and potential loss of human life. Equipment such as circuit breakers, protection relays or transformers ensures the safety and protection of employees and bystanders — and when they fail unexpectedly, the possibility of an unsafe situation rises significantly.

Without a routine maintenance program in place, a facility is effectively operating in a ‘run to failure’ mode; it’s only a matter of time before things go pear-shaped. In today’s highly competitive business environment, no company can afford disruption to productivity and, as such, the value of electrical preventive maintenance has never been greater. Given our reliance on electrical distribution systems is growing, what can you do to ensure the safe and efficient functioning of your business?

Inspect, detect and correct

A regularly scheduled electrical preventative monitoring (EPM) program aims to inspect, detect and correct electrical issues before they escalate and become major problems. Establishing an EPM program is a sound business decision that will significantly improve the productivity of a facility whilst benefiting its bottom line. If you think about your car, the cost of regular maintenance like an oil change is nothing when compared to the cost of replacing a blown motor. This principle holds true when applied to a facility’s electrical system, as studies show there is a direct correlation between the level of maintenance and the reliability of the electrical equipment.

Minimising the likelihood of system downtime by improving equipment reliability is just one of the many benefits associated with preventive maintenance. The key objective of an EPM is to ensure electrical parts and components are operating as their design intended — ie, at their optimum level. By regularly monitoring, identifying and resolving potential faults, optimisation is improved, fewer disruptions occur and facility uptime is maximised. Unlike reactive maintenance, preventive maintenance can be performed during off-peak business periods when there is less impact to the business, as well as the customer.

Maintained electrical equipment is also more energy efficient. Over time, normal wear and tear causes stress to components that can result in diminishing device energy efficiency. When a device is not routinely maintained, it uses (and wastes!) more energy while it is running.

Monitor, maintain and then monitor some more

Perhaps one of the best advantages of a preventive maintenance program is that it allows you to track results over time. Best practice involves the compilation of quality reports that provide detailed information around the ‘present state’ of a distribution system and its reliability relative to the present needs of a facility’s operators. By keeping a record of all maintenance and repair activities, facility managers can analyse trending data and better predict when a fault may arise.

Whether your electrical distribution system requires maintenance every week, month or year, the most effective programs take into consideration the state of the system in its entirety, regardless of there being equipment from multiple manufacturers. With conflicting maintenance procedures and requirements, this can be tricky; however, it is the only guaranteed means of ensuring the power distribution system is reliable and operating as intended. Specific maintenance of separate pieces can only be considered a bandaid fix — this disjointed approach is riddled with risk and should not be encouraged.

Another factor to keep in mind is that some facilities require more frequent maintenance than others. Facilities with unfavourable environmental conditions like humidity, excess dust, dirt or a corrosive atmosphere may demand more TLC than premises protected from the elements. Equipment with heavy loads or that run constantly will also need to be serviced more often.

Every electrical preventive maintenance program should adopt a ‘made to measure’ approach that caters for the distinct needs and requirements of the specific plant or facility.

Prevention over cure

Whether you’re getting your car serviced or going to the dentist for a check-up, it’s safe to say that being proactive is almost always less costly that being reactive. For electrical distribution systems, reactive maintenance can be three to four times more expensive than preventive maintenance. In addition, it takes less time to carry out preventive maintenance with a scheduled outage than it does to conduct emergency repairs during an unforeseen one. The bottom line is that electrical preventive maintenance helps to reduce total cost of ownership (CapEx + OpEx) and creates more value for your business.

Faced with the burden of having to cut costs, operating expenses like preventive maintenance programs are too often first to go. Financially, this can be a huge mistake. Systems without a routine maintenance program in place are known to have a failure rate three times higher than those that do. With a fixed-rate maintenance agreement, it’s much easier to prove the value of an EPM to key decision-makers. When payments are made little and often, the bite doesn’t itch quite so much.

Smart business

When advocating for the implementation of a preventive maintenance program, it’s important to calculate and demonstrate the financial impact of an unplanned outage and what this means to the operation of a business. It’s also worth noting that, in the case of an incident or major event, the focus is on restoring power as quickly as possible — this almost always comes at a debilitating cost to the business.

A preventive maintenance program will not only add to the life expectancy of your equipment, it will save you significantly on your expenses — it’s smart business and worth jumping up and down for.

Read more: http://ecdonline.com.au/content/electrical-distribution/article/preventive-maintenance-more-valuable-than-ever-594548556#ixzz58NaFvUqV

Research firm IBISWorld has revealed the top five industries expected to grow and shrink in 2017–18.

The wind and other electricity generation industry is predicted to be the top performer in 2017–18, with 35.3% growth. IBISWorld anticipates that sports and recreation facilities operation, dairy cattle farming, petroleum exploration, and nature reserves and conservation parks will round out the top five best performers.

At the top of the list of industries facing a less fortunate 12 months is the motor vehicle manufacturing industry with revenue predicted to decline by 43.1%. Other industries anticipated to face revenue declines include intellectual property leasing, outdoor vegetable growing, sugar manufacturing and concreting services.

Industries to fly

Industries 16/17 Revenue ($million) 17/18 Revenue ($million) Growth (%)

Wind and other electricity generation 1770.0 2394.8 35.3%

Sports and recreation facilities operation 1453.6 1588.2 9.3%

Dairy cattle farming 3982.5 4301.3 8.0%

Petroleum exploration 1399.1 1499.3 7.2%

Nature reserves and conservation parks 1554.2 1650.9 6.2%

Electricity generation

The closure of ageing coal-fired power stations, supply constraints and rising gas prices in the eastern states have all wreaked havoc on electricity markets over the past two years. The electricity service price is projected to increase significantly this financial year — especially in South Australia and Victoria, the country’s two largest producers of wind power.

“We’re predicting massive growth of over 35% for this industry, with renewable energy operators in Victoria and South Australia likely to take advantage of rising prices to boost their revenue,” said IBISWorld Senior Industry Analyst William McGregor.

Sports and recreation

Revenue for this industry is expected to grow by 9.3% in 2017–18, to reach $1.6 billion. IBISWorld anticipates this year’s Gold Coast Commonwealth Games will play a huge part in boosting this industry with several new purpose-built facilities such as the Anna Meares Velodrome and Carrara Sports and Leisure Centre coming into play, alongside the redevelopment of a number of others, including the Optus Aquatic Centre and the Gold Coast Hockey Centre.

Dairy cattle farming

According to IBISWorld, this should be the year the dairy cattle farming industry bounces back. “With the Australian dollar projected to depreciate this year, we anticipate local dairy products will become more competitive in export markets, boosting returns to domestic milk processors, which will then flow through to dairy cattle farmers. We’re also expecting an increase in the size of the national dairy cattle herd, which will drive up milk volumes and contribute to an expected 8.0% increase in revenue in 2017–18,” said McGregor.

Petroleum exploration

IBISWorld expects revenue in the petroleum exploration industry to increase by 7.2% in 2017–18, to reach $1.5 billion. This growth is expected on the back of three years of consecutive revenue declines, including a 53.0% drop in 2015–16, due to a decline in the global price of natural gas.

“As Australian households have had to compete with international consumers for gas supply, household gas prices have increased. This year, the electricity service price, a proxy for domestic natural gas prices, is tipped to surge by 15.4%, spurring renewed expenditure on petroleum exploration, which rose by 7.1% during the year to September 2017,” said McGregor.

“A number of major petroleum production players have announced new budgets for exploration, including ExxonMobil, which has major investment plans for Bass Strait. There’s also a high likelihood growing pressure on the eastern seaboard energy market may prompt authorities to roll back regulation on coal seam gas extraction, which would lead to growth in petroleum exploration.”

Nature reserves and conservation parks

IBISWorld attributes rising revenue for this industry to growth in domestic and international tourism, which is increasing government funding for ecotourism activities. “In addition, the relative weakness of the Australian dollar has increased the cost of holidaying overseas for Australians and decreased the cost of visiting Australia for foreigners — both of which benefit local ecotourism. We anticipate growth in admission fees, sales and government funding to boost industry revenue by 6.2% this year, to reach $1.7 billion,” said McGregor.

Industries to fall

Industries 16/17 Revenue ($million) 17/18 Revenue ($million) Growth (%)

Motor vehicle manufacturing 7959.7 4532.0 -43.1%

Intellectual property leasing 4117.0 2825.7 -31.4%

Outdoor vegetable growing 6032.9 5216.1 -13.5%

Sugar manufacturing 3411.5 2985.7 -12.5%

Concreting services 8755.3 8195.0 -6.4%

Vehicle manufacturing

The high comparative cost of Australian vehicle manufacturing, together with changing consumer preferences and increasing imports, has had a devastating effect on local motor vehicle manufacturing, which is expected to decline by 41.3% this year.

With both GM Holden and Toyota closing their domestic manufacturing plants during 2017, truck manufacturers Volvo, PACCAR and Iveco are now the major players in the Australian industry.

“While truck manufacturers are affected by the same tough trading conditions as passenger car makers, there is an element of protection for those designing and building trucks specifically for Australian conditions, such as transporting heavy loads over long distances in high temperatures. With truck manufacturers now the key players in our domestic motor vehicle manufacturing sector, the industry’s future performance is set to rely more on business confidence than consumer sentiment in years to come,” said McGregor.

IP leasing

Intellectual property leasing industry revenue has been extremely volatile in recent years due to the irregular auction of spectrum rights.

“The main bidders for spectrum rights in Australia are telcos, such as Telstra, Optus, Vodafone and TPG, with the latter purchasing rights for $1.26 billion in April 2017. This is expected to lead to a 31.4% decline in industry revenue in 2017–18, during which no spectrum auctions are expected to occur,” said McGregor.

Vegetables

While the value of vegetables grown this year is predicted to increase slightly due to strong potato and onion output, the anticipated drop in domestic pulse production (chickpeas, peas, lentils, broad beans, lupins and mung beans) will hurt the industry’s overall performance, with revenue expected to decline by 13.5%.

Record pulse output in 2016–17 means that although this year’s production is still projected to be high, revenue will decline this year, with lower yields hurting pulse growers’ revenue.

Sugar manufacturing

An expected oversupply in global sugar markets is tipped to drive sugar prices down this year, with IBISWorld forecasting revenue for sugar manufacturers to decline by 12.5%. “Domestic sugar output is projected to decline this year following the bumper crops of 2016–17, and with two-thirds of Australian sugar destined for export markets, global conditions — including consumption not matching production growth – will contribute to revenue declines for local sugar millers,” said McGregor.

Concreting

Weak demand from most infrastructure markets, coupled with an expected decline in residential building markets, will contribute to deteriorating conditions for concreting services in 2017–18, and cause revenue to decline by an estimated 6.4%.

“An oversupply in several major metropolitan markets and a slump in construction of large-scale apartment complexes will stem demand for concreting services in the residential sector for the time being, with the main stimulus this year coming from stronger demand from the commercial sector, as well as escalating activity on major transport projects including the WestConnex and NorthConnex in Sydney. While these projects will keep large-scale concreting firms busy, smaller operators are unlikely to benefit, because they lack the capital and workforce resources required to compete for these large projects,” said McGregor.

Around 500 private and fleet vehicles in Queensland will be retrofitted with devices that enable vehicles to talk to vehicles, infrastructure, road operations systems and cloud-based data sharing systems.

The $2.58m research project by Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), the intelligent transport systems cooperative research centre iMOVE CRC and the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) aims to prepare for and accelerate the emergence of cooperative technologies onto Australian roads.

This research will be conducted as part of the Queensland Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS) Pilot Project, said to be Australia’s largest on-road testing trial of cooperative vehicles and infrastructure.

The large-scale, 3.5-year project will commence with the design and equipment-testing phase, with the nine-month on-road trial.

Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the C-ITS devices provided safety warnings about a range of conditions — for example, a pedestrian crossing at a signalised intersection, a hazard on the road or a queue ahead.

“We are testing these vehicles to help understand the implications for our infrastructure and drivers, and the improvements to automated vehicle performance when they can talk to other vehicles, infrastructure and our cloud-based data sharing systems,” Bailey said.

“These rapidly developing technologies have potential to significantly reduce crashes and associated gridlock, vehicle emissions and fuel use.

Professor Andry Rakotonirainy from QUT’s Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety — Queensland, which is conducting the safety evaluation component of the Pilot, said the participating vehicles will be fitted with a range of wireless and sensor technologies designed to share the vehicle’s position, speed and other data, as well as receive road and traffic data from cloud-based sharing systems.

“Validating the effectiveness of C-ITS for safer, and more efficient, transport in a real environment will be examined as part of this project, as well as analysing driver behaviour, acceptance of and willingness to use, the technology.

“By utilising real-life traffic situations, including roadworks zones, arterial roads and motorways, we have an opportunity to consider if the system operates in the way it is intended, and does it result in the desired behaviour responses for all drivers,” said Professor Rakotonirainy.

iMOVE CRC Managing Director Ian Christensen said the newly established cooperative research centre was delighted to be working with TMR, QUT and other stakeholders on such a promising field trial.

“Over the next decade, vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure connectivity will enable the development of a smarter and more productive transport system in Australia and worldwide,” he said.

“This will make it safer and easier for people to move around, as well as boost productivity for business and industry.”

As a part of the project, the following C-ITS safety technologies will be tested: emergency electronic brake light warning (V2V) — alerts drivers to a cooperative vehicle braking hard some distance ahead; stopped or slow vehicle warnings (V2V) — alerts drivers of an impending rear-end collision with another cooperative vehicle ahead of them; turning warning for vulnerable road users (V2I) — alerts drivers to pedestrians or bicycles crossing at an upcoming intersection; advanced red light warning (V2I) — alerts drivers if it’s likely that they’ll drive through a red light ahead, unless they brake; road works warning (V2I) — alerts drivers to upcoming roadworks, giving them time to slow down or change lanes; in-vehicle speed warning (V2I) — provides drivers with information about active, static or variable speed limits. It then alerts them if they are exceeding the speed limit; back-of-queue warning (motorways) (V2I) — provides drivers with information about an upcoming traffic queue; and road hazard warning (V2I) — alerts drivers to upcoming hazards, such as water on the road, road closures or a crash.

The evaluation findings will be used by transport agencies (local, state and federal) to support the investment of infrastructure both digital and physical that supports the emerging C-ITS need.

The C-ITS Pilot project is part of the larger Cooperative and Automated Vehicle Initiative (CAVI) being delivered by TMR to help prepare for the arrival of new vehicle technologies with safety, mobility and environmental benefits on Queensland roads.

The CAVI project will also include the testing of a small number of cooperative and highly automated vehicles on South East Queensland roads, as well as investigate options for using these emerging technologies to benefit pedestrians, cyclists and motorcycle riders.

The iMOVE CRC is a consortium of 44 industry, government and research partners engaged in a concerted 10-year effort to improve Australia’s transport systems through collaborative research and development projects.

Australia’s energy future — from power generation right through to residential energy storage — has been a topic that has sparked considerable debates and discussions.

Events such as the 2016 statewide South Australian blackout and closure of Victoria’s Hazelwood Power Station have put increasing pressure on decision-makers to guarantee supplies for much of the Australian eastern seaboard.

As a result, the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has been working closely with the National Energy Market to ensure consumer requirements are met, while governments, utilities and decision-makers are putting plans in place to ensure future power demand can be met. A prime example of this is South Australia’s large-scale battery installation to back up supplies in case of grid failure.

While Australia’s power industry is traditionally perceived as conservative and slow-moving, rapid developments in technology and the rising popularity of renewable energy are opening the door to new and innovative energy delivery models.

The rise of virtual power stations

The Australian Government is no longer subsiding private individuals installing solar panels, but this doesn’t appear to have hindered the technology’s appeal. Australia already has one of the highest residential solar penetrations in the world, and in November 2017 marked an all-time high for panel installations. This wide install base has made Australia an ideal location for the introduction of solar battery storage and in turn the creation of ‘virtual power stations’.

Created by a combination of multiple houses installing solar panels and solar storage batteries, virtual power stations are connected to the main grid in order to feed power back in. This power is remotely managed via software integrated into the system by a third-party provider. The last couple of years have seen a surge in the concept’s popularity, due to consumer angst about rising electricity prices and renewable technology becoming more affordable.

The practical benefits are fairly obvious — no-one wants a repeat of the South Australian blackout, and the risk of such large-scale incidents occurring could be offset by the adoption of such technology. Load shedding is also an ongoing issue around Australia — wider implementation of virtual power grids could allow houses to self-power during peak demand times, helping reduce or even negating the issue.

Utility providers are open to working with virtual power stations, but greater clarification is still needed for how they can be effectively used in the future. Given the relatively recent rise of the technology, there is still work that needs to be done in its regulation, and there are questions about its reliability as part of the wider grid.

Tightened cybersecurity in a decentralised distribution model

Looking further into the future, serious analysis suggests that within a few decades half of all electricity demand will be sourced from solar and storage virtual power stations, across individual homes and businesses.

This presents a cybersecurity challenge for many utility companies. Cybersecurity is often thought of in terms of data theft but, given the increasing computerisation and automation of the distribution process, it’s entirely possible that malicious attackers could attempt to interfere with Australian energy supplies. It’s believed to have already happened in the UK, though the exact details are still ambiguous.

Part of the issue is the decentralised nature of virtual power stations. Traditional power distribution systems are relatively closed, meaning that prospective attackers have only a handful of potential entry points. But with the likely increase of virtual power stations, there will be more and more additional entry points. Attackers may only need to breach one in order to cause considerable damage to a system.

Traditionally, utilities have been proactive in protecting and strengthening the power network against electronic threats and cyber attacks. Moving forward, they’ll need to place greater emphasis on educating the public on the wider implications surrounding power security.

The rise of virtual power stations presents practical benefits for residential as well as business users. Ultimately, they give consumers more power over their energy and leave them in a better position to use energy as a trading commodity between themselves and utilities. While further testing must be carried out around their practical viability, it’s an appealing option.

Accidental electrocution continues to be a significant cause of occupational death. Personnel need to be provided with adequate safety training courses and managers, particularly those running smaller companies, convinced of the need for safety training. Amongst the highest rates of occupational deaths are engineering, construction, mining, fishing, agriculture and the forestry industries.

At one time or another, most us have experienced some form of electric ‘shock’. If we are lucky, the extent of that shock is limited to tingles or jolts of pain from static electricity leaving our bodies.

When we are working around electric circuits able of delivering high power to masses, electric shock becomes a much more serious issue, and pain is the least significant result. But good working habits can prevent electrical shock and accidental electrocution, resulting in a safer workplace.

Good work habits

Many electrical injuries could be avoided if individuals were alert to hazards. Use these tips for a safer workplace:

Take accountability for noticing, reporting and correcting electrical hazards. Take a few extra minutes to inspect your equipment (ie, cords for wear) and keep your working area clean and dry to avoid shock and fire hazards.Always use and maintain wiring, tools and equipment properly. If you are unfamiliar with the equipment, ask a professional and/or read the instruction manual.When cleaning electrical equipment, make sure it’s unplugged and follow the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions.If outside or near a wet location, make sure tools and extension cords are suitable for outdoor use and circuits are equipped with GFCIs.Never carry a tool by its cord.Cords should be kept loosely coiled and in a dry environment.Be alert of energised areas when reaching into equipment.Always verify the absence of voltage and use insulating gloves and tools.Shields, barriers, insulation and GFCIs are there to protect you, so don’t modify them just to get a job done quicker.Learn and use your company’s lockout-tagout procedures.Uncoil an extension cord completely before using it and ensure that the amperage marked on it is appropriate.Don’t use faulty equipment. Discontinue using equipment immediately if it gives off a mild shock, unusual heat or an odd smell. When in doubt, it’s safer to have it checked, repaired or replaced.

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

PPE is your first line of protection against shock and electrical burns and it can save your life.

It is extremely important to keep gloves, boots and other equipment in excellent condition — even a pinhole will let electricity through.Rubber insulating gloves are amongst the most important articles of PPE for electrical workers. Gloves need to incorporate dielectric properties and physical strength, along with flexibility and durability.Wear non-conductive protection on your head, face, hands and feet.Use insulated tools or handling equipment, such as non-conductive ropes and protective shields.Dirt and sogginess increase the risk of shock. Keep your PPE clean and dry.

In the field of electrical safety, new technical requirements and systems are frequently changing, so it makes sense to keep up to date on current codes of practice and take the necessary precautions to make your workplace a little safer.

Read more: http://ecdonline.com.au/content/electrical-distribution/article/good-habits-for-a-safer-workplace-626117953#ixzz58NYhkMQb

Short circuit, overcurrent and earth faults are widely understood and protected against in low voltage residential installations, but some hidden sources of ignition — such as arc faults — are not always easy to identify.

Latest statistics show electrical issues are a leading cause of residential fires in Australia, with around 40% of residential fires in NSW caused by electrical appliances or faults. In Tasmania, they are the third leading cause of fires. Complete protection is, therefore, absolutely essential.

Recognising the risk of arc faults, Europe and America have already put in place safety standards relating to the installation of arc fault detection devices. Australia will soon follow suit, with the AS/NZS 3000 electrical installations standard (the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules) due to be released early next year, with recommended guidelines around arc fault detection devices to be included.

For the industry, electrical safety risks range from overloaded power points and damaged outlets, right through to inadequately maintained installations. Arc faults occur at nominal or low current, making them difficult to detect manually.

Some common causes include: pulling cables out of a power point repeatedly without care; crushing the cable between objects, eg, a door and door jamb; or cables being damaged by rodents or pets. In some cases, an arc fault can also be caused when wiring becomes loose at the terminal connection.

Broken or damaged wires can also lead to small arc currents, burning and degrading insulation over time. They are mostly identified by high frequency (HF) electrical noise and the breakdown of the fault current close to the zero-crossing of the driving voltage.

Serial arc faults are the most common, originating from a fault within the phase or neutral conductor. They can go undetected for a long time. Parallel arc faults originate from a fault between phase and neutral, with the total current in the circuit increasing depending on load impedance and fault impedance.

While safety switches and circuit breakers for overcurrent protection can be effective in reducing the risk of electrically ignited fires, they cannot identify arc faults — therefore, the addition of arc fault detection devices is required to ensure protection against all faults.

Arc fault detection devices divide the measured current of each final subcircuit into a low-frequency and a high-frequency share. These two signals are used as the basis for electric arc identification — they are analysed by a microcontroller to determine whether they display the characteristic HF signals of an arc fault and, if identified, automatic disconnection of the affected subcircuit will be triggered.

They are not designed as an alternative to residual current devices or circuit breakers for overcurrent protection. Instead, they work in partnership with RCDs and MCBs to provide a comprehensive switchboard safety solution. However, some arc fault detection devices also incorporate RCD and MCB functionality in a single compact unit.

A number of standards-related changes are arriving soon in Australia. One expected change relates to guidelines on the use of arc fault detection devices in final subcircuits for locations storing flammable material, fire propagating structures and premises with sleeping accommodation.

The new guidelines are not expected to be mandatory but they present an opportunity to better understand the risk of arc faults. For most electrical contractors, this means understanding the proposed safety standard guidelines for arc fault detection devices — and getting to know what safety products and new protection technologies are available in Australia.

Read more: http://ecdonline.com.au/content/electrical-distribution/article/reducing-the-risk-of-electrical-fires-1188033210#ixzz58NXGq2b2

Half of all Australian men will have a mental health problem at some point in their life and one in eight will experience depression. Despite this, they are far less likely to open up about what is affecting them than their female counterpart.

21% of workers in the construction industry were shown to have had a mental health condition and construction workers are six times more likely to die by suicide than through a workplace accident.

With a recent focus on promoting a healthy body and healthy mind, AccessEAP is doing its part in building awareness in some of the more male orientated workplaces where mental health issues are prominent.

“Talking about what’s affecting them and taking action are proven ways for men to stay mentally healthy but it’s still difficult to get men to take that all important first step,” says AccessEAP clinical services director Marcela Slepica.

“Often in male dominated industries, the macho mentality still exists where men are afraid to show weakness, sadness or vulnerability. If men don’t feel like they can open up, it can have a detrimental effect on their mental health. Apprentices in construction are two and a half times more likely to suicide than other young men their age.”

Toolbox talks

AccessEAP has introduced ‘toolbox talks’ in an effort to raise mental health awareness. These sessions focus on increasing awareness of mental health issues and help men to see that help is available.

AccessEAP relationship management Eleni van Delft has already provided tailored toolbox talks to organisations in the manufacturing, mining and construction industries and is amazed by the immediate effect it has had on participants.

“Often at the beginning of a session, we struggle to get men to talk but by the end, they can be reluctant to leave and I’ve witnessed large scale discussion amongst participants about issues that may be affecting them in their personal or work life long after the session has ended,” says Eleni.

The toolbox talks are not only helping men to reach out for help, but also show them their organisation cares about them and values their wellbeing.”

Recent data from AccessEAP shows that anxiety (17%), relationship with partner (14%) and depression (14%) are the leading personal issues for which men seek assistance while workplace stress (15%), career concerns (10%), and fear of loss of job (8%), are the leading workplace issues. The work impact of these issues is difficulties in concentrating, feeling less productive and 12% have even considered resigning.

Men’s priorities tend to change with age and with that come work commitments, longer hours and the possibility of family commitments. It is often difficult to keep in touch with friends and invest time in hobbies, which can lead to a lack of social connection. Without someone to talk to about the demands of a stressful job, long hours or family troubles, these everyday stresses can result into something much more serious.

Managers and employees need to educate themselves about the behaviours that may indicate a colleague is going through a tough time and learn ways to encourage them to seek help if they’re concerned for their welfare.

Here, AccessEAP offers some tips to help men reach out in times of need:

Seeking help is positive for your mental health. It is not a sign of weakness.The best health is achieved with looking after both your physical and mental health.Make self-care a priority and set goals for sleep, exercise and ‘me’ time.Maintain social contact and keep in touch with friends and family.Equip yourself with the tools and strategies you need to cope with challenging life events. Start with your EAP and a confidential appointment.

For more information on toolbox talks or men’s mental health, please visit www.accesseap.com.au.

Another gas retailer, Simply Energy, is set to enter to the increasingly crowded WA residential market following approval from the State Government.....

The Economic Regulation Authority has granted national provider Simply Energy a 10-year licence to sell gas to small-use customers in the coastal supply area between Geraldton and Augusta, including Perth.

The move follows AGL Energy and Origin Energy last year joining homegrown retailers Alinta and Kleenheat in the market, a move which has brought widespread discounting.

Simply Energy, majority-owned by French multinational Engie, has been operating in Australia since 2005 and claims to have 600,000 customers.

The company sells gas in South Australia, Victoria and parts of NSW. It also sells electricity in those States and Queensland.

Japanese conglomerate Mitsui & Co holds a 28 per cent stake in the business.

Simply Energy applied for the WA licence last October. A public comment period yielded no submissions.

The arrival of AGL and Origin has seen discounting by providers ramped up to as high as 35 per cent.

Alinta is the established market leader, reporting 548,600 residential customers at last June 30. Kleenheat, in the market since 2013, last week claimed 190,000 customers.

AGL reported 7000 customers by December 31, well short of a mid-2019 target of 100,000. Origin has yet to provide figures.

Fourteen per cent of WA’s 757,189 gas customers switched providers last year.

There were 13,000 new residential accounts added.

From flipping on the light switch and turning on your phone to reheating a snack in the microwave, the everyday activities we take for granted utilise an essential energy source – electricity. Now that you stop and think about it, you might wonder how this power arrives at your home from once it’s been generated.

As we’ll outline here, the electricity we take for granted makes a long journey from the power station to your home. So, here’s how it gets delivered to you...

Australia’s electricity grid

Australia’s electricity grid spans more than 4,500 kilometres, and that’s just the eastern and southern states. Western Australia, the Northern Territory, and Mount Isa in Queensland have individual transmission and distribution networks.

With more than 40,000 km of transmission lines, the main electricity grid includes transmission and distribution elements that allow transportation across the vast distances to your home. Australia’s grid is relatively efficient, with an average of 5% of electricity lost through the transmission and distribution process. This is a relatively low figure compared to loss rates for other countries.

Power stations

Electricity starts its life in a power station. Power stations are huge plants – often located near energy sources like natural gas plants, hydroelectricity dams, and solar or wind farms – that produce electricity. Depending on the type of fuel or source of energy input - whether it’s coal, solar, wind, or even nuclear - power plants may have components such as a furnace, boiler, turbine, cooling towers, and generators. These types of components are essential for the generation process.

Once the electricity is generated, it leaves the power station through overhead lines to large substations. At this stage, the electricity can be at as high as 25,000 volts or ever higher.

First substation transformer

Substations are usually located near power stations. Substations play an important role in the electricity transmission process: they further increase the voltage of the current, allowing it to be sent over long distances without losing too much power.

Substations do this by using transformers, and these can be used to either increase or decrease the voltage of electric currents. Decreasing the voltage of electricity can be important at distribution substations as it needs to be made less powerful and safe before it enters your house.

Once it passes through the first substation transformer, your electricity makes its way to the transmission networks.

Transmission networks

The transmission networks help shift electricity from power stations on to distribution networks to facilitate delivery to households, businesses, and other end users. At this stage, the electricity remains at a high voltage since it still needs to move across vast distances.

The transmission networks are made up of overhead lines on metal pylons or lines buried under the ground. These lines are designed to carry ultra-high voltages and they’re insulated to prevent the electric current from accidentally moving to the ground, where it can be dangerous for people.

Second substation transformer

At the second substation transformer point, your electricity is reduced in voltage, again through the use of transformers, to make it safe for use by households and end users. At this point the electricity is considered to have reached the distribution network and left the transmission network.

The type of substation and voltage can vary depending on the use and location. For example, in rural areas, smaller substations might be used to reduce the voltage to around 33,000 volts, which makes it suitable for powering trains and factories. In urban areas with factories, the voltage could range between 11,000 and 33,000 volts to serve smaller factories. Contrast with delivery to homes, offices, and business, where the neighbourhood transformer might lower the voltage to as little as 230 volts.

Distribution powerlines

Once your electricity leaves the substation transformer, it enters distribution power lines on its way to the final destination. Power lines can be overhead or underground, and they’re a familiar sight in most areas around Australia.

Once it reaches your neighbourhood, the electricity passes through a small pole-top transformer for another voltage reduction. This ensures it’s safe to use inside the home, office, or business.

Your home

Your electricity passes through the service drop and gets recorded at your metre. The metre tracks how much electricity you use. At your switchboard, your electricity gets divided up into circuits for each area of your house. Finally, the electricity moves through wires behind your walls to power outlets and switches, where you operate your lights and appliances.

It’s easy to take the electricity used to light your house for granted, but this precious energy source has travelled a long way, through complex generation and transmission infrastructure, to get to your house. Knowing this, you’re probably less likely to take electricity for granted when you next switch on your light or power up the TV.

Click Energy is a leading energy company and we help Aussie households save more on their electricity bills with our 100% online service model. Find out more about our simple, easy-to-understand plans here, or switch and save online today.

The total energy supply was valued at $136 billion in 2015-16, down from the previous year at $153 billion, the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show.

The value of industry demand fell ten per cent, while household demand fell four per cent to $43 billion.

The mining industry remains by far the nation’s most valuable energy product source, contributing 53 per cent or $72 billion of the nation’s total energy supply. Next in line was manufacturing, at $21 billion.

Although industry used more energy overall in 2015-16, it made more from it, requiring 2 per cent less energy for each million dollars of economic output between 2014-15 and 2015-16.

Lauren Binns, ABS Environment and Agriculture spokesperson

Energy exports easily outpaced imports, with exports at $60 billion, down 11 per cent, and imports at $25 billion, about a third being oil.

Coal was the export mainstay, followed by gas and oil.

Industry is raising its energy productivity, according to the ABS.

It is using less energy to make money, prompting an ABS spokesperson to say that the nation was becoming more energy efficient. Industry used two per cent less energy in 2015-16 to make a million dollars than in the previous year.

Households also appeared to be using more energy more efficiently. Each household used 141 gigajoules (almost 40,000 kiloWatt hours) of energy in 2015-16 on average, down one per cent.

That was the latest decrease in the slow six per cent decline over the the decade since 2005-06. Just under half of total domestic energy use was petrol products and about a third was electricity, at $14 billion.

Australia is estimated to have 158 years left of black coal stock, 11 years of crude oil left, 50 years of LPG supply and 194 years worth of uranium.

The country’s net energy supply rose five per cent to about 23,244 petajoules in 2015-16. One petajoule is 277.8 million kWh.

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It’s easy to take electricity for granted, but the next time you recharge your phone or turn on your computer, stop for a moment and think about what you’d do without electricity. From the rapidly spoiling food in your fridge to the pile of unwashed laundry in your washing machine, the impact on your new life minus the electricity is profound. So how did we live before electricity was discovered?

When was electricity invented?

Humans have known about electricity for millennia, but it wasn’t until Benjamin Franklin that we started understanding more about this energy source. Franklin, with his work in the mid-1700s, is credited with furthering understanding of electricity and establishing a foundation for other scientists and inventors.

Later, in 1831, British scientist Michael Faraday discovered the basics of electricity generation. Starting in the 1870s, Thomas Edison would master electricity for lighting and start a wave of invention and industry that would eventually bring electricity to everyday consumers.

What did we use before electricity?

Today electricity is readily available and it’s hard to imagine life without it. People managed quite well without electricity, but no electricity meant more time spent on chores, inconvenience, and manual labour. Nearly all aspects of everyday life were more inconvenient, whether it was sitting in a dimly lit living room after sunset, salting and drying meat so it wouldn’t spoil, or washing the laundry by hand.

Lighting before electricity

Kerosene lamps, candles, fireplaces, and gas lamps were some of the ways you could light up your home after dark. If you were eating, reading a book, or taking a bath after sunset, you needed to carry your lamp or candle with you to make sure you didn’t trip over or end up fumbling in the dark. These lighting sources were dimmer than light bulbs - one 60-watt lightbulb gives you the same amount of light from 100 candles.

Food storage before electricity

Food spoiled quickly in the world before electricity-power refrigeration, but these societies still had ways to keep food fresh for longer. For example, meat safes and cool pantries kept meat and other food cool while keeping flies and insects away. These were placed in the coolest places in the house, away from direct sunlight. Smoking, salting, and drying food were also good ways to extend the shelf life of produce.

Cooking before electricity

Without electricity, you had to cook over an open fire, such as on a metal stovetop or over a fireplace. There weren’t any appliances either, so bakers relied on labour-saving devices like manual mixers to make batter and dough. Ovens, for making bread and other baked goods, relied on firewood-powered fires.

Indoor heating before electricity

In the colder months, you couldn’t reach over and switch on your trusted electric heater. Other than sitting by an open fireplace and draping an extra blanket over yourself, there wasn’t a lot of options for heating your indoor spaces. Hence in the winter months, firewood was essential and keeping a fire going throughout the day served two purposes: you could cook meals over the fire while you heated up the space.

Boiling water before electricity

While today it’s easy enough to fill the kettle and switch it on for your cup of tea, in the old days you had to start the fire, add extra firewood, and suspend the billy can over a fire or set it over the stove.

Ironing before electricity

Before electric irons were available, the people used charcoal clothes irons and even petrol clothes irons. The charcoal models could be heated on top of a hot surface like a stove, or it could be filled with hot coals from the fireplace before you did your ironing. The petrol model was hailed as a big advancement on the charcoal design as it ran on petrol and incremental heat control was possible.

Laundry before electricity

The electric washing machine is probably one of the biggest labour-saving appliances in the modern household. Before we had washing machines, we relied on washboards and washed clothes by hand. The washboard was set in a laundry trough or bucket, and you rubbed the clothes against the ribbing to remove stains. Later, people started using manual washing machines. These used compressed air and suction mechanisms to churn your dirty laundry around in the soapy water and remove dirt and stains.

Our modern powered world

Electricity powers every area of our modern lives, so it’s no surprise how much labour and time savings it brings. Without electricity keeping our food fresh and our homes warm and well lit, we would end up losing a lot of comfort and convenience. So, what would you miss most in a world without electricity?

Click Energy is a 100% online energy provider that’s helping Aussies save more on their electricity bill. To find out more about our packages, contact our award winning customer service team today, or switch and start saving right away.

South Australia's Labor Premier Jay Weatherill has unveiled what he expects to be a vote-winning power policy before the March state election — 'free' solar panels and Tesla batteries for 50,000 homes.

And it's all thanks to the guy on the right. Yep, it's the latest gift in the ongoing bromance between Mr Weatherill and billionaire Tesla boss Elon Musk, after the pair teamed up to help fund the world's biggest lithium-ion battery (which is already producing power in the South Australian grid).

"Free?" I hear you ask. They say nothing is certain but death and taxes.

This deal will involve some of the latter (a $2 million taxpayer-funded grant and $30 million loan to Tesla), plus a significant catch — the power generated by the solar panels and the batteries will not be owned directly by the households, but may well be sold back to them via a retailer.

First things first. What is a 'Virtual Power Plant'?

A VPP is trendy terminology for distributed electricity generation. It's a bit like the internet. Or bitcoin.

The idea is that by sharing surplus energy produced by rooftop solar panels when not being used, all consumers can benefit.

Key to these systems are smart meters and other clever technology which can figure out automatically which system is producing surplus power and whether that can be stored or moved to another customer.

The South Australian scheme will see the homes of each participant installed with a 5kw solar system paired with a 5kw/15kwh Tesla Powerwall 2 battery.

Why hasn't anyone done this before?

They have. There are several virtual power plant trial schemes operating around Australia, including one in South Australia run by AGL and subsidised by the Federal Government.

According to the SA Government, the Tesla scheme will eventually be widened to some 50,000 homes — making it about 50 times bigger than the AGL scheme, and by far the biggest in the world.

In total, the distributed energy system would be capable of outputting about 250 megawatts of power, making it more than double the size of South Australia's grid-scale Tesla battery, and almost as powerful as the temporary diesel generators installed by the SA Government.

What's the catch?

Well, these "free" solar panels and batteries won't be owned by the participating householders.

In the first instance, the systems will be installed on the rooftops of 25,000 SA Housing Trust properties owned by the SA Government.

And unlike those people who go out and pay for their own solar panels and batteries, the scheme participants will not be able to benefit from the zero-cost power provided by their solar panel and storage system.

Instead, an electricity retailer will be engaged to run the scheme, and sell the power generated by the solar panels and stored in the batteries back to the householders at a discounted rated.

In effect, the householder is simply leasing Tesla and another power company some spare roof space and garage space in return for a discount on their power bills.

According to preliminary analysis for the SA government by Frontier Economics' Danny Price, the retailer should be able to offer participants a power price of around 27c/kWh. That's about a 30 per cent saving based around a current residential average retail cost of about 40c/kWh.

What isn't clear is whether those households who opt in to have the systems installed at their properties will be forced to purchase their power through the chosen retailer, and if so, for how long they will be locked into a contract.

Either way, it spares Housing Trust tenants the huge upfront costs of installing their own solar panel and battery systems.

What's more, the SA Government says every one of the state's 37,000 Housing Trust tenants will be able to benefit from the retailer's discount offer — whether or not they have the solar panels and batteries installed at their property.

After testing the system on Housing Trust homes, the Government wants to broaden the scheme to other households from July 2019.

It's not yet clear whether households who've already installed their own solar panels and battery systems will be able to opt in, or whether their own initial cost outlays will result in further discounts.

Nonetheless, the scheme should help all consumers, whether or not they sign up as participants or not.

The retailer which runs the new system will have up to 250 megawatts of power that it can sell into the grid at times of peak demand, adding competition into the market.

Danny Price estimates that could drive down wholesale power prices by about $15/MWh, saving electricity consumers across the state about $180 million a year on their power bills.

Turning your humble abode into a tech-savvy smart home doesn’t have to be exxy.

Origin has today launched Home HQ, a smart kit allowing you to monitor your home through an app, for just under $200 bucks a pop.

For that amount, you’ll get a starter kit that will let you monitor and control your appliances, keep track of the temperature and humidity of your home, and create alerts for when motion sensors are triggered.

The kit has been designed for everyone, so there’s no need for a professional installer or an electrician since nothing is hard-wired. All you have to do is connect the smart devices in your home to the Home HQ gateway through your home Wi-Fi and control everything from the app on your phone.

Watch how Home HQ can help you take control of your home

What’s included:

Gateway: Connects to your home wi-fi and acts as the centralised hub for all your Home HQ smart devices to connect to, so you can access them from anywhere.

Temperature & Humidity Sensor: Lets you check the temperature and humidity of any room in your home and set rules and alerts when things change.

Smart Plug: lets you control home electrical appliances via your mobile. Check and switch things off like your iron or hair straighteners and schedule a fan to switch on if it’s a hot day.

Motion Sensor: Position this infrared motion sensor in a high traffic area like your living room or a walkway and get alerted to movement while you're away.

Entry Sensor: You'll know if a window or door is opened or closed when you're away from home. These clever sensors will tell you by sending an alert to your phone.

Philips Hue light bulb: lets you switch your lights on and off – great if you go out and forget to turn off a lamp, don't like returning to a dark home, or are on holiday and want to make it look like someone's in.

Home HQ is just on sale in Victoria between now and 20 December through our online store www.originhomehq.com.au

This limited pre-Christmas release is available to residents in Victoria and we’ll look to expand into other states in 2018.

As we reach the limits with today’s technology in our electronics, where do we go next? The answer is to lift the barriers that prevent us from developing smaller, more powerful, and more energy-responsible electronics. With this goal in mind, a new frontier has emerged: Wide Bandgap (WBG) semiconductors.

The impact of implementing WBG semiconductors would result in substantial economic savings. WBG semiconductors:

Handle 10 times higher voltages, allowing new technologies to utilize higher power without needing more materialOperate with over 90 percent increased power efficiency by reducing the ambient power loss compared to current technology

These advantages will allow electronics to be developed and sold at a lower cost while also saving users billions of dollars in energy.

Superior Characteristics

Diamond is known to be the "Ultimate Wide Bandgap semiconductor material" due to its inherent properties. Its ability to conduct heat far surpasses that of materials used on current electronics (five times better than copper, 22 times better than silicon).

It also has the unique ability to isolate massive voltages with a small fraction of the material required compared to present technologies. In isolating 10,000V, the amount of diamond needed is 50 times less than that of silicon. These attributes present diamond to be the ideal successor technology.

Read more by visiting; www.akhansemi.com/technology.html

They say diamonds are a girls best friend but now it seems diamonds are now a smartphone owner’s best friend, as phone screens in the future could be created from diamonds.

Akhan Semiconductor is a company that grows diamonds for electronic use and now according to CNET will be focusing on creating diamond glass screens and will be released as early as next year.

Adam Khan, CEO of Akhan Semiconductor spoke to CNET last year saying screens made of diamond glass will be stronger, harder, and cleaner than anything you’ve used before.

Khan says the company is currently testing out the screen with a number of device makers, which have not been named. The device makers are stress testing the diamond glass strength and making sure when used will respond to touch.

The screen can be applied with other materials similar to Gorilla Glass.

No word if or when it will happen commercially but its good to know in the future when you drop your phone it won’t mean a trip to the repair store.

Serious questions are being asked after it was revealed that Amazon is allowing Marketplace participants to ship electrical appliances to Australia that don’t comply with local safety standards because they are the wrong voltage, the products are also devoid of a local 10 year warranty.

This was exposed when ChannelNews sourced the pricing for a KitchenAid Pro Line Blender that has just gone on sale in australia for $1,199.

What we have revealed is that the lure of cheap prices, could end up costing Australians who shop on the Amazon web site dearly.

A classic example is the Companies new, Pro Line Blender, the same blender is selling for US$499 on Amazon.com and Amazon Prime or A$656 when conversion to the Australian dollar.

This a price which KitchenAid executives in Australia admit could temp some Australians to buy direct from the Amazon US web site which is offering to ship KitchenAid products to Australia within days of them being ordered from a US Marketplace operator liosted on the Amazon website.

Via Amazon the total cost of the Pro Line Blender with shipping to Australia added is $785.41.

The only problem is that KitchenAid will not offer the same 10 warranty, on the product as the Australian sourced model.

The Amazon advertised device is $110 volts Vs 240 volts for the Australian model, according to experts this could lead to the device “exploding”.

On the Amazon web site on Friday two Amazon Marketplace participants Concept Kitchen and Kitchen Kapers were offering to ship the 110 volts Amazon Kitchen Aid Pro Line Blender to Australia arriving by November 30th.

This was then changed to December 8, 2018 when we went to the shopping cart.

“We have raised this issue with Amazon who are not purchasing the device directly from us” said KitchenAid executives.

“The issue we have is that the US device is not suitable for the Australian market, despite this they are allowing their Market Place Merchants to ship goods that may be unsafe and this is a problem” added.

According to electrical experts if the voltage is too high it draws too much current and burns out, if the voltage is too low it draws too little current and/or does not perform to its rating. The mathematical reference is Ohm’s Law and the Power Triangle.

Theysaid that If you plug an 110V appliance in 220V outlet you have to hope that there is some protection device that disconnects the power to the appliance.

If the Amazon shipped goods is some kind of heating device, (toaster, incandescent light, lamp, bulb, space heater) it will develop close to four times the designed heat, and probably burn out in minutes, or seconds. This they claim could lead to a house burning down.

If it is an AC drive, it most likely will burn out very quickly. If it is a universal drive, (or DC), it may spin up to twice its intended speed, and wear out quickly.

The experts also claim that if Amazon in shipping and supplying the device it could be contravene local regulations, because in most countries, electrical sockets are designed to accept only certain plugs, in order that you do not mismatch appliance voltage and outlet voltage.

We have attempted to call Amazon PR re this issue, but they have not returned our calls.

KitchenAid Australia said that several of the Companies products which don’t comply with Australian standards are currently listed on the Amazon web site.

Kay Oswald the General Manager of KitchenAid Australia said “These concerns have existed as long as e-commerce has been around and is not Amazon-specific. It is about educating consumers that electrical appliances should not be brought in from overseas as they are simply not made for this market”.

He added “We want our customers to have a great experience when they purchase one of our products. If a small appliance is bought overseas, no matter where they purchase it from, the last thing we want is for them to find out that it may not work as expected due to the product being designed for other markets.

When you purchase a product here in Australia it is designed for our market, you are covered by a local warranty and deal with a locally-based customer service team.”

In 2013, Samsung Electronics Australia (Samsung) issued a recall of six models of its top loader washing machines. If not repaired or replaced, these machines could cause house fires, endangering property and life.

Samsung has attempted to contact customers using details gathered by retailers at the time of the sale but some of these records are now out of date. This means many customers in Western Australia have not yet contacted Samsung for a remedy and are likely still to be using their unsafe machines.

Licensed electrical contractors and their employed electricians play a vital role in ensuring the safety of our community. If any electricians notice a Samsung top loader machine in a home or business while performing work at a customer’s premises we ask you please, as a voluntary courtesy, to alert the customer to the potential danger.

Customers should call Samsung on 1800 239 655 (8am to 8pm AEST every day) or email wm.samsung@samsung.com to verify whether or not their machine is subject to the recall and, if so, to arrange for a refund or replacement with a likefor-like safe model.

Those who have already had their machine repaired may wish to consider Samsung’s offer of a free, independent audit of the work to ensure it has been carried out correctly. At least one fire has occurred in Western Australia involving a ‘reworked’ machine. Owners should not offer recalled machines for sale or leave them on the verge for bulk rubbish collection as they could endanger someone else if retrieved.

The Samsung top loader washing machines being recalled are:

• SW75V9WIP/XSA;

• SW65V9WIP/XSA;

• SW70SPWIP/XSA;

• SW80SPWIP/XSA;

• WA85GWGIP/XSA;

• WA85GWWIP/XSA.

For more information owners can visit www.commerce. wa.gov.au/announcements/samsung-washing-machinerecall-faq.

Those with diffculties obtaining a remedy can contact Consumer Protection on 1300 304 054 or consumer@dmirs.wa.gov.au. Electricity

Building and Energy’s annual compliance safety inspection of electrical appliances offered for sale at the 2017 IGA Perth Royal Show resulted in an infringement notice being issued to a stall holder for displaying for sale an unapproved power supply.

A Euro Slim massage cushion (Model ES-002) was displayed for sale with an unapproved AC/DC adaptor (prescribed article). The adaptor (below) had been manufactured overseas but was sold to the stall holder by an Australian retailer.

An imported appliance requires approval from the Director of Energy Safety before being sold, hired, or displayed or advertised for sale or hire. Unapproved appliances pose a risk to consumers, as they have not been properly assessed to determine if they pose a shock or fre risk.

Items approved for sale in Australia are listed under the Electrical Regulatory Authorities Council’s (ERAC) National Certifcation Database at www.erac.gov.au.

Finally, a tiny home that let's you go totally off-grid and be completely self-sustainable -- no plumbing or electrical to deal with, yet you get a kitchen, hot showers and a flushing toilet.

Ecocapsule, a new kind of micro-house, is powered entirely by solar and wind energy and is now taking orders.

The capsule, made by a Slovakian company called Nice Architects, comes pre-made and ready to house two adults. It can be used as a cottage, pop-up hotel, caravan, as refugee accommodation, and even as a charging station for electric cars.

Nice studio says it's also a great option for scientists needing accommodation while in the field researching. And that's where the original 2008 concept started: as a “frontier dwelling” for scientists, photographers, rangers, or extreme tourists who wanted to set up camp in the great outdoors. Since then, it's purpose has evolved.

Thankfully, this isn't the kind of release that forgets about its Australian customers. The first generation edition is now ready to order and costs $125,000 (EUR79,900) and shipping to Australia is around $3000 (EUR1900).

You can move it from place to place by hitching it to a truck, plonking it onto a boat, or apparently, hooking it onto a helicopter (the less-than-90-square-foot capsule is light enough for air transport).

How it works

It's made from insulated fibreglass shells and an aluminium framework and comes with a 750 watt wind turbine (that can produce electricity 24 hours a day) and 600 watts of solar. It's the built-in wind turbine and the solar cells that coat its exterior that provide the power.

Its egg shape isn't just about a futuristic look, either: it prevents heat loss and aids in the collection of rainwater. This water comes in through the roof and is filtered.

Its designers say it’s able to function for almost an entire year off the grid.

The interiors

Inside, blonde woods and light colours enhance the feeling of space. In the bedroom (below), a sofa folds down into a bed.

The first order is capped at 50 pods only. So if this sort of thing floats your, er, capsule, then get in quick

Calling all FIFOs! We want to hear about your experiences at work.

A new study at UWA looks into FIFO workers’ mental health and wellbeing. By sharing your experiences and views, you can make a contribution to research that will inform workers, companies and governments on the mental health and wellbeing issues and benefits of FIFO work and how best to tackle them.

After completing the survey you will receive a personalised feedback report and there is a chance to win a $ 150 dinner voucher.

Project Plan

Working in FIFO (or DIDO) roles can pose particular demands on workers and their families and has its own benefits as well. Some research shows that FIFO work has an effect on wellbeing, mental health, and relationships. However it is not well understood how specific workplace factors affect wellbeing and mental health in FIFO workers.

Without insights into the workplace aspects that shape the FIFO experience, targeted strategies and initiatives focussed on protecting and enhancing the mental health and wellbeing of FIFO workers and their families cannot be provided.

To address these issues, a new UWA study investigates a range of FIFO work factors that contribute to mental health in workers and how these factors might affect their next of kin.

A key aim is to identify positive and negative workplace experiences as well as strategies used by individuals, families and organisations to buffer against potential FIFO challenges.

In doing so, the project aims to identify the relative importance of each factor, including those related to FIFO work, the facilities in and around the site, as well as the FIFO workers themselves.

Your Support

A study on FIFO workers needs FIFO workers! Each participant in our study has the opportunity to contribute their own personal experiences and views to the bigger picture that we are aiming to achieve.

We want to learn from as many experiences of FIFO workers as we can. A contribution of your time and insights will help us generate an accurate picture of FIFO mental health and wellbeing, as well as of the work and workplace experiences of FIFO workers.

What do people need to do to take part?

Participation in the study involves completing a survey. The survey contains questions about mental health and wellbeing, work and the workplace, as well as family and social life.

Completing it takes around 30 minutes. As part of the survey, FIFO workers are invited to nominate their partners to also complete a survey that captures their FIFO experiences.

Partners will receive a survey link once they have been nominated by a FIFO worker who has completed the survey. This process allows the researchers to understand how FIFO workers’ and their partners’ experiences are connected.

What will the researchers do with the information?

The data you provide will be used for research purposes and the findings will be reported back to the Mental Health Commission, which has commissioned this work.

The insights generated by the research can inform workers, companies and governments on the issues associated with mental health in FIFO workers and how to best tackle these. All information provided will be anonymous, so that your responses cannot be traced back to you.

The responses from partners and FIFO workers are automatically linked vis a computer generated electronic identifier and your personal details will not be directly linked with your responses

How will this study impact the community?

This study aims to capture the views of at least 1500 FIFO workers. In doing so, it will provide a conclusive overview of mental health, wellbeing and work factors experienced by FIFOs.

The research will be ideally placed to form the basis of guidance and support for workers and families. It will also provide evidence that companies can use to design workplaces in ways that are positive for mental health and wellbeing.

The research can also help inform government policies on FIFO work.

What are the benefits to those taking part?

Besides contributing to research that looks into the work that you do, individuals who take part in the study will receive a personalised feedback report with reflections on their results.

They can also add their personal details (i.e. email address) to enter a raffle to win one of five $150 dinner vouchers.

Contact the research team via FIFOsurvey-sbus@uwa.edu.au

Sharks are the poster child for electroreception. Some species are so sensitive to electric fields that they can detect the charge from a single flashlight battery connected to electrodes 16,000km apart. Great White Sharks are known to react to charges of one millionth of a volt in water.

The electroreceptors (known as ampullae of Lorenzini) are jelly-filled tubes that open on the surface of sharks’ skin. Inside, each tube ends in a bulb known as the ampulla. If you remove the skin from the head of a shark, hundreds of these bulbs can be seen.

The jelly in the tube is highly conductive, which allows the electrical potential at the pore opening to be transferred to the ampulla at the base of the tube. Voltage differences across the membrane lining each ampulla then cause nerves to be activated, sending signals to the brain.

Electroreceptors are most often used to capture prey, by the detection of electrical fields generated by the prey. For example, this allows sharks to find prey hidden in the sand.

Some fish have also evolved complex electrocommunication, by which they communicate through the detection of electrical signals produced by other fish.

Although best known from sharks, electroreception is also known in several obscure groups of fishes, including lungfishes, coelacanths, the bizarre chimaerids, and the ancient jawless lampreys.

In fact, electroreception is surprisingly widespread in vertebrates, which led us to search for its presence in the ancestors of living fish by studying ancient fossils.

Fossil evidence for electroreception

High-resolution CT scans allowed us to “digitally dissect” well-preserved fossils and reveal sensory systems preserved inside the bones.

One of the best known sensory systems in fossil fishes is the lateral line system, which detects pressure changes in water. Fishes use this system to change direction as a group without crashing into each other when swimming in a shoal.

But surrounding the lateral line system in some fossil fishes was another series of small holes. CT scans revealed that their internal structure was similar to electroreceptors in living fishes, and the position of the pores matches the distribution of electroreceptors in living lungfishes.

A complex system of branching tubes (below) appears to have supplied nerves to the electroreceptors.

These ancient electroreceptor systems appear to have been particularly elaborate in fossil lungfish. Lungfish are an ancient group, which still survive in Australia, Africa and South America. Exceptionally preserved 400 million year old fossil lungfish from Australia had snouts that were covered in a dense array of these electroreceptors.

Other fossils from the same time period show that electroreceptor systems may have been quite diverse. For example, another ancient fish, related to the ray-finned fishes called Ligulalepis, has a series of large pits that widen at the base, which may represent clusters of electroreceptors.

It now appears that during the early evolution of vertebrates, electroreceptor systems were diverse and went through a period of experimentation.

Some of these early experiments were successful and persist today. For example, the coelacanth (Latimeria) is a unique lobe-finned fish more closely related to land animals than most other fishes. It has a specialised electroreceptor organ called the rostral organ sunken into its braincase. This is used to detect prey hidden in small crevices when the coelacanth performs its characteristic “headstand”.

Unknown new sensory systems

Our studies also revealed previously unknown sensory systems in the placoderm fishes, an extinct group that dominated ecosystems between about 420 million and 360 million years ago. These sensory systems appear to be completely unique, although they do not resemble electroreceptors.

These include large pits on the underside of the cheek, which we have named “Young’s apparatus” in honour of Australian placoderm researcher Dr Gavin Young, who first illustrated them in detail from 3D fossils found near Burrinjuck Dam.

While we can’t confirm what they were used for, the fact that these pits show a nerve passage through the bone suggests that they might have housed some sort of unusual sensory system.

The more we study the ancient jawed placoderms, the more we discover about them that simply doesn’t match the predictions of the early researchers who thought them to be essentially shark-like.

As far as the Australian energy market is concerned, last year was more tumultuous than anyone could have predicted.

No-one – from governments to consumers, and from regulatory bodies to retailers – could have been happy with some of the things that transpired. It was certainly less than ideal that the topics of energy supply and pricing spawned so many negative articles.

But at least we can now feel like the entire industry in Australia is starting to move in the right direction – the direction of a more sustainable model resulting in lower prices within the next couple of years.

Here are some of the most significant things that happened in and around the energy industry in Australia in 2017:

Thousands of South Australian households experienced blackouts in January and February following orders from the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) to cut supply due to ‘lack of available generation supply’. The Federal Government announced Snowy Hydro 2.0 in March, claiming it will increase capacity of the scheme by 50 per cent to add firm generation to the NEM. Hazelwood power station closed after 50 years of operation. The Prime Minister imposed tough new restrictions on gas exports to shore up domestic supply (meaning exports could be blocked if there is insufficient supply in the domestic market). Professor Alan Finkel’s highly-anticipated Independent Review into the Future Security of the National Electricity Market was released in June. The Victorian Government’s much-awaited Independent Review of the Electricity and Gas Retail Markets in Victoria was released in August. The Prime Minister met with major energy retailers, who were eventually pressured into a commitment to help more than 100,000 families secure a better power deal. These were customers whose fixed-term contracts had ended or were pushed onto more expensive default offers. The Federal Government announced it would establish a Reliability Guarantee and an Emissions Guarantee, together forming a “National Energy Guarantee” (NEG) – based on the recommendations of the new Energy Security Board (ESB). The ACCC released its interim report of the Retail Electricity Pricing Review (and took further submissions in response to that). South Australia became home to the world’s largest lithium ion battery, a 100 MW Tesla battery in Jamestown

Not a day goes by without a new gadget being touted as the next best thing, but how many of these are actually useful or necessary? We’ve come across a bunch of inventions that use energy in unique ways — it’s up to you to decide if they’re game-changing or destined for the junk drawer.

Whatever you decide, there’s no doubt these gadgets will tap into your inner geek.The robotic bee’s knees While battery powered technology has leapt ahead in light years, batteries themselves are lagging, with most smartphones and laptops needing to be charged once a day. The same thing applies to smaller-sized drones, which have only enough charge to remain airborne for a matter of minutes. To overcome this, the Harvard Microrobotics Lab has developed tiny robotic ‘bees’ that use static electricity to ‘perch’, conserving energy and extending the length of the robot’s battery life up to 1000 times.

According to the scientists behind the ‘robobees’, the uses for small drones with a longer battery life include: "providing a bird’s-eye view of a disaster area, detecting hazardous chemical or biological agents, or enabling secure signal transmission in ad hoc communication networks".

Whether or not this is life-changing for the rest of us, you’d have to admit that the idea of tiny flying robots is just a bit scary and, at the same time, kind of cute.

Let there be lunch! The GoSun Solar Oven has to be one of the more practical inventions to hit the scene, using nothing but the power of the sun to cook almost anything. Plucked from the floor of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2016, GoSun was one of 14 startups chosen to compete in the CES Hardware Battlefield. Although GoSun didn’t win, it did achieve Honoree status in the CES Innovation Awards. All this recent attention, a hugely successful 2013 Kickstarter campaign, and articles in a raft of mainstream media outlets, has ensured that the GoSun Solar Oven isn’t one of those inventions that never sees the light of day. And speaking of light, that’s all you need to run the oven, which can heat up to an amazing 280 degrees Celsius simply by drawing on solar energy. There’s no fuel required and, based on the principles of a solar hot water system, the inner glass tube heats up while the outside of the oven stays cool to the touch. Inventor Patrick Sherwin is a solar expert, so there’s no gimmick here; just a commitment to a lightweight, efficient and portable cooking method that doesn’t involve burning anything. And, through targeting sales to the leisure and camping market, Patrick wants to help finance the roll out of the GoSun to countries where wood and charcoal are the only options for cooking fuel. Meet BRIXO, more than just Lego™ with lights Every now and then you come across something that is truly genius, and BRIXO blocks meet that definition. Created by self-confessed science nerd, Boaz Almog, and financed by a hugely successful Indiegogo campaign, BRIXO blocks are a merging of the Internet of Things (IoT) with traditional Lego™, propelling the legendary building blocks into the digital age. So what is BRIXO? As stated on the Indiegogo campaign page, ‘BRIXO's electric bricks are normal sized building blocks that are anything but normal. It's like Lego™ on steroids, if steroids also gave you superpowers and taught you new languages.’ Completely compatible with Lego™, BRIXO blocks are powered by a low voltage in-built battery (chrome plated for safety) that means you can create … well, just about anything your imagination comes up with. There are three types of blocks — Trigger, Connector and Action — which, when joined together, can connect via Bluetooth to your phone, respond to triggers such as sound or light, and, of course, power any of your BRIXO/Lego creations. So, if you’re a Lego obsessive, or even if you’re not, make sure you check out BRIXO. We can pretty much guarantee a jaw-dropping experience. Fancy a side of baked beans with that? Like something out of Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, or Wallace & Gromit, the ‘Breakfast Machine’ was created by British retirees Peter Browne and Mervyn Hugget to provide their wives with the perfect breakfast, and to give people a good laugh. And laugh you will, as Peter Browne talks you through the ingeniously complicated and surprisingly high tech contraption that took the pair 1000 hours to put together. Made of aluminum and steel, and using eight microprocessors to power thirteen DC motors, stepper motors and servos and gears, the Breakfast Machine heats water, brews tea, boils eggs, makes toast and deposits the morning newspaper on the table. Testimony to the inventiveness of the human mind, the Breakfast Machine also speaks volumes about Peter and Mervyn’s utter dedication to their wives, and really, who could ask for more?

We thought we’d take a quick look at some of the energy monitoring apps that are already out there and that might be worth a try if you want to manage or reduce your household electricity consumption.

These are in no particular order and we haven’t tested them ourselves, but there are a number of positive reviews for each.

Sense Home Energy Monitor

Sense relies on a small device installed in your home’s electrical panel. The monitor samples your current and voltage one million times per second to help you understand what every appliance, light, and device in your house is doing, all the time.

You can read all about it at sense.com.

Reviews:

iOS: 4.5 rating from 83 reviews

Android: 4.3 rating from 150 reviews (87 x 5 stars, 40 x 4 stars)

JouleBug

By turning energy saving into a game, JouleBug aims to make changes to your everyday habits more sustainable.

JouleBug organizes sustainability tips into Actions that you Buzz in the app when you do them in real-life.

Learn more about each tip with easy-to-understand Impact Stats, Bonuses, How-To Videos, and Helpful Links.

Track your impact with your career stats and fill your Trophy Case. Save money, have fun, and be a little kinder to the planet, with JouleBug!

See more at joulebug.com.

Reviews:

iOS: 4.5 rating from 40 reviews

Android: 4.0 rating from 82 reviews (47 x 5 stars, 13 x 4 stars)

Neurio Home

Coupled with the Neurio Sensor, which you install in your home’s electrical panel, this app monitors, measures, and reports on the appliances that use the most energy, and generally helps you manage your consumption and reduce costs.

It is particularly compatible with rooftop solar and is aimed at professionals (such as solar installers) as well as householders.

Read more at neur.io.

Reviews:

Android: 3.6 rating from 63 reviews (21 x 5 stars, 13 x 4 stars)

My HomeSelfe

HomeSelfe is a patent pending technology that creates a digital mockup of your home highlighting the 10 key areas of energy consumption.

The app prompts you to answer questions about each area, which you can answer at your own pace as you learn more about your home and your energy use.

You’ll get a clear picture of your home’s energy efficiency and find ways to save money.

As you’ll see on the homeselfe.com website, they claim to be “the world’s leading home energy savings app”!

Reviews:

iOS: 3.0 rating from 6 reviews

Android: 4.3 rating from 9 reviews

Light Bulb Saver

The app was originally developed by the Swedish Energy Agency and has been customised for use in Australia.

It not only identifies the best light bulbs to replace your incandescent and halogen bulbs, and how much you could save by transitioning to LED or CFL, but also offers some tips about choosing the right lighting for each room in your house.

As lighting accounts for up to 15 per cent of the average household electricity bill you could save hundreds of dollars each year simply by installing more efficient lights.

Reviews:

Android: 4.9 rating from 10 reviews

Energy Consumption Analyzer

This app keeps track of your gas, electricity, and/or water consumption. Just take meter readings from time to time, whenever it’s convenient.

From the entered data, the app calculates the average normalised rate of consumption per hour, day, week, or month and draws a graph showing the consumption rate over time.

The total amount of energy used during each day, week, month, or quarter is displayed as a bar graph or table. If the average cost per unit is provided, the graphs can also show the amount of money instead of energy.

Reviews:

Android: 4.5 rating from 2000+ reviews (1421 x 5 stars, 407 x 4 stars)

Efergy Ego

The Ego Smart Socket and app lets you monitor which appliances are on, track current and past energy use, and remotely turn off appliances. Used in conjunction with a smart thermostat, such as Google’s Nest, as well as Energy Star Appliances, this could make your home a lot more efficient.

Find out more at efergy.com and visit the (Australian) online store to see more efergy devices.

Reviews:

Android: 3.6 rating from 90 reviews (40 x 5 stars, 15 x 4 stars)

EvoEnergy – Electricity Cost Calculator

An easy-to-use energy consumption calculator that helps you save by displaying the cost of running various electrical appliances or devices.

Calculate the overall estimated electricity consumption per hour/day/month/year in units/cost and the electricity consumed by each appliance.

Reviews:

Android: 4.4 rating from 250 reviews (167 x 5 stars, 51 x 4 stars)

Like a lot of technology, some things suit some people and their ways of working and thinking better than others, so don’t be afraid to give one or more of these a shot, and don’t be put off altogether if one that you try isn’t quite right for you.

Our thinking is that if you have to spend a bit of time investigating and experimenting with something that costs you nothing but that time, with the potential to save money in the long term, that’s time well spent.

If you’re in the market for a new oven, you’ll inevitably be faced with the choice between gas or electric. And you’ll discover that just about everyone has an opinion on what’s hot and what’s not. So, to help you make up your mind, we've weighed in on the debate with a run-down of the pros and cons.The bottom line Up-front costs and energy efficiency are more than likely near the top of your list in terms of deciding factors, but recent research suggests that there’s no clear cut winner in these categories.

Gas ovens are more expensive to buy and install than electric, but they’re still considered to be cheaper over time and more efficient to run. One of the things to take into account is whether your kitchen already has a gas connection. If not, this can add significantly to the overall cost of a gas oven. Electric ovens are generally cheaper to purchase and install — making up over 80% of the market — but historically they've cost more to run due to the price of electricity. Most consumer advice sites continue to maintain that electric ovens are more expensive to run than gas. Both of the above statements, however, should be taken with a grain of salt. A changing energy market, the uptake of domestic solar electricity and the improved efficiency of electric appliances mean that the new generation of electric ovens are giving gas ovens a run for their money.Proof is in the pudding Most of us have a preference for cooking with gas or electric, and a lot of the time this is based on what we’re used to, rather than a balanced assessment of the merits of each. Gas ovens don’t dry food out as much as electric, which makes them ideal for roasts, cakes and casseroles. Another advantage of gas is the almost instant control over the flame and temperature. That said, unless the gas oven has a fan, they don’t distribute heat as evenly, meaning you have to rotate your food for all over browning or crisping. Electric ovens, on the other hand, usually have a fan so they heat evenly, plus a variety of cooking modes for more versatility. The new steam convection ovens also provide the moisture needed for roasts and other slow baked dishes. And, counter to popular opinion, most modern electric ovens have a pre-heat time on a par with gas. The up-shot is, choosing between a gas or electric oven is probably going to boil down to your budget, your cooking needs and a healthy dose of personal preference. Do some research, talk to friends and family, and think about how and what you cook. Regardless of whether you decide on gas or electric, using your oven efficiently is the key to conserving energy and saving money. Below are our 5 tips for energy efficient oven use.5 tips for energy efficient oven use 1. Use fan forced cooking where available, as this means food cooks at a lower heat. 2. Refrain from opening the oven door while cooking. 3. Make sure the door seals are intact and working properly. Replace if necessary. 4. Cook several things at the same time. 5. Cook in bulk and freeze for later.

To get ideas on how to save energy, it's a good idea to start by looking at how and where you use it.

Use your heater efficiently

Use your heating system's zoning option to heat your living areas during the day and bedroom at night.Always close the doors to rooms you're not using so the heat stays in. Keep your thermostat at 18-20℃ - each degree over 20 uses about 10% more energy.Hot air rises - so turn your ceiling fan on a low speed to gently push the warm air back towards you.Keep your windows and doors closed when the heater is on or when it's cold outside.Use draft stoppers and seals to stop drafts coming in and hot air from going outside

Tips for keeping cool

After a hot day, open your windows or use ventilation fans to let the hot air out.Shut the doors of unused rooms to keep the space you're cooling to a minimum.On hot days, keep your air conditioner at 24℃ - each degree under this uses about 5% more energy.Use external blinds or awnings to keep the heat out. Unless the mercury goes over 30℃, use fans to cool your home instead of the air conditioner. Use your air conditioner for an hour less on hot days and you could save around $82 a year.Only use your air conditioner when the temperature goes over 30℃ and you could save around $180 a year.Use your ceiling fans for twice as long as your air conditioner when the temperature goes over 28℃ and you could save around $178 a year

Hot Water

Stick to short, four-minute showers. You could save up to $9 a year.Switch from a standard shower head to a 3-star rated head. You could save around $283 a year

Home Appliances – Switch off at the Wall!

Switch things off a the wall, instead of leaving them on stand-by, and you could save around:

Cooking Rules

Booking with gas is the most efficient way to cookSet your over to fan-forced - it cooks quicker and more evenly than conventional settings.Cook with a pressure cooker, electric fry pan or microwave - your microwave uses up to 80% less energy than your electric stove.Keep a lid on simmering pots - this can reduce your energy use by up to 70%.24Make sure the seals on your oven are in good condition to prevent heat escaping.

Laundry Lock in’s

Dry your clothes on a line rather than using your dryer. Do this once a week and you could save up to $83 a year.Washing a full load of laundry uses the same amount of energy as a half load. Try to do all your washing at the same time and make all your loads full ones.Try to do your ironing in large batches - that way you won't waste energy heating and reheating your iron every time.

Try these Bright Idea’s

Get into the habit of turning off the lights when you leave a room.If you don't need much light, use lamps or spotlights instead of lighting the whole room.Install motion sensors or timers on your security lights - so you don't have to remember to turn them off at night.Use solar lights to light up your garden pathways - they store energy during the day and then light up automatically at night

In case you’re just as into electricity as we are, here are a bunch of things that you might find interesting … or impressive … or unusual … or useless!

If you’re not yet fascinated by electricity, read on and you may be!

1. Australia’s first recorded use of electricity was to light Sydney’s General Post Office in 1878.

2. Electricity travels at the speed of light, about 300,000 kilometres per second.

3. A spark of static electricity can measure up to 3,000 volts.

4. The average taser emits 50,000 volts.

5. A bolt of lightning can measure up to three million (3,000,000) volts (and lasts less than one second).

6. LED light bulbs use about one-sixth of the electricity that conventional bulbs do, cost about a quarter as much to use, and last about 40 times longer.

7. Appliances also use electricity when they’re switched off. The average desktop computer idles at 80 watts, while the average laptop idles at 20 watts. A Sony PlayStation 3 uses about 200 watts, both when it’s active and when it’s idle.

8. The electric eel (a type of knifefish) can deliver a shock of up to 600 volts, for hunting or self-defence.

9. In Albertville, France (host city of the 1992 Winter Olympics), they make electricity from cheese! Since whey isn’t needed to make Beaufort cheese, bacteria is added to the whey, turning it into biogas. This gas is then fed through an engine which heats water to generate electricity.

10, Someone took the trouble to calculate this, and we’re going to take their word for it: you would need about 648 AA batteries to power a human being for a day (based on 1 calorie = 4.2 Joules)!

11. Lightning is a discharge of electricity in the atmosphere. Lightning bolts can travel at around 130,000 miles per hour and reach nearly 54,000 °F in temperature.

12. Have you ever wondered why birds sitting on a power line don’t get electrocuted? If a bird sits on just one power line it is safe. However, if the bird touches another line with a wing or a foot, it creates a circuit, causing the electricity to flow through the bird’s body. This results in electrocution.

13. Huge amounts of renewable energy can be stored over a long period of time by using Pumped Storage Hydropower, where water is pumped up a hill with renewable electricity then sent back down the hill to generate on demand clean electricity at up to 80% efficiency

14. Flames conduct electricity

15. Daylight Savings doesn’t actually save electricity. It still exists because it helps the economy

16. So many British people make tea after the TV show “Eastenders” finishes, that backup power stations go on standby to cope with the massive surge in electricity usage

17. Sometimes during a week, electricity prices can drop below zero in Europe

18. There is a pedal powered cinema in which one person on a cycle can generate enough power to show a film to an audience of hundreds. it is used in schools in Africa where they do not have electricity.

19. Only 10% of energy in a light bulb is used to create light. Ninety percent of a light bulb’s energy creates heat. Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), on the other hand, use about 80% less electricity than conventional bulbs and last up to 12 times as long

20. Google accounts for roughly 0.013% of the world’s energy use. It uses enough energy to continuously power 200,000 homes

Most of us understand the basic principle behind the energy efficiency rating system — the more stars, the more efficient the appliance — but what’s the real difference between 7 stars and 10? And how is energy efficiency measured? Knowing the answers to these questions will help you make an informed choice when purchasing an appliance, and can have a significant impact on your electricity bills.

Why is energy efficiency important? According to the Federal Government’s YourHome guide to environmentally sustainable homes, electrical appliances, including the fridge and TV, are responsible for 33% of your household energy consumption (and around 45% of household greenhouse gas emissions).

That’s a big chunk of your bill, and highlights the importance of running energy efficient appliances where possible.

What is the energy rating system?

Introduced into Victoria and NSW in 1986, the energy rating system is now mandatory throughout Australia for the following appliances: dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, refrigerators, freezers, single-phase air conditioners, computer monitors and televisions.

The system rates the efficiency of appliances from 1 – 10 stars, with 10 being super-efficient and 1 being very poor. The aim is to encourage consumers to buy more energy efficient appliances, which in turn increases demand and encourages manufacturers to produce more energy efficient appliances.

What makes an appliance energy efficient?

Put simply, an energy efficient appliance uses less electricity to achieve the same level of performance as a similar model of the same size or capacity, thereby costing less money to run. The energy rating label and star system allows you, the consumer, to compare appliances not only on the basis of retail price, but on running costs over time.

How do I read the energy rating label?

The label contains two pieces of crucial information about the appliance: the energy consumption figure and the star rating.

The energy consumption figure is an estimate of the amount of energy (in kilowatts per hour) the appliance will consume in a year based on an assumption about average daily usage. Obviously this figure is only an estimate: actual usage, the climate you live in and even by things like the energy efficiency of your home in general will impact on the amount of kwh used per year.

The star rating is fairly obvious; as discussed above, the more stars, the more energy efficient the appliance. Televisions, computer monitors, refrigerators, air conditioners, dishwashers, washing machines and dryers can have a maximum of 10 stars. Most other appliances have a maximum star rating of 6.

How is the star rating calculated?

Star ratings are calculated using algorithms defined by the Australian and New Zealand Standards that measure energy consumption and performance. As appliances become more efficient, the algorithms are adapted to incorporate the new criteria. This is why we’ve now got a 10-star rating system, when once the maximum energy efficiency rating was 6 stars.

Do energy ratings really make a difference?

Well, yes. As much of the above indicates, the energy rating system has contributed to an increase in demand for energy efficient appliances, and a subsequent increase in the manufacture of energy efficient appliances. And quantity is not the only element to be affected; the quality of the appliances has improved to such an extent that a further 4 stars have been added to the ratings system.

For the consumer, the energy rating system has added significantly to the information that is available about an appliance and how it stacks up next to comparative models in terms of price, efficiency and running costs over time.

One of the key lessons of the energy efficiency system is that basing your purchasing decisions on price alone is not necessarily going to save you money. If the cheaper appliance is less energy efficient, before too long the running costs could considerably outweigh any initial retail savings.

For a complete explanation of the energy rating system, plus lots of good advice for those in the market for an appliance, you can’t go past the Federal Government’s Energy Rating website.

These days, it’s hard to imagine a life without electricity – most of us tend to take it for granted. Needless to say, it’s actually a remarkable phenomenon that has kept philosophers and scientists in its thrall for 1000s of years.

So, to reinvigorate your admiration for the workings of electrons and protons, and for those humans who are dedicated to generating electricity in novel ways, here are 5 random things about electricity that you probably didn’t know.

Scotland just launched the world’s first large-scale tidal energy farm, which aims to add 398MW of electricity to the UK national grid by 2020 (the equivalent of powering 175,000 homes a year). Funded by the Scottish Government and developed by Atlantis Resources, the initial phase of the MeyGen Project involves the deployment of four 1.5MW turbines that will use tidal power to generate 6MW of electricity. A group of researchers at RMIT University in Melbourne have developed a ‘hot-electron’ textile using nanoparticles of silver and copper, which releases heat in the presence of light. This means that, as the nanoparticles gain kinetic energy, the heat they generate can be used to dissolve stains and dirt. In theory, it appears you could clean your dirty clothing by walking around in the sunlight … mmm, a water-saving measure perhaps? In a related move, and one that seems slightly more practical, a team of Chinese an US researchers have developed a super-thin fabric that generates electricity from sunlight and movement. Potential applications for the highly flexible and foldable power source include charging your phone or laptop, monitoring health conditions, or powering wearable electronics. The world’s largest wind turbine in commercial operation is the off-shore 8MW Vestas V-164, developed and manufactured by the world’s largest wind turbine company, Denmark-based Vestas Wind Systems A/S. A single Vestas V-164 can power 7500 homes, with a rotor diameter of 164 metres and each blade weighing 33 – 35 tonnes. In September 2016, the first of 32 Vestas V-164s was installed at the Burbo Bank Wind Farm Extension project off the west coast of England. Once completed, the turbines will generate 258 MW of electricity — enough to supply approximately 230,000 UK homes.

Looking back at five inventions that not only changed Australia, but the world.

The history of Australian industry is one of innovation and great achievement. For generations, Australians from fields as diverse as medicine, engineering and even journalism have created, developed and invented to improve the lives of everyday people, everywhere.

Refrigerator: 1856

In 1856, Geelong newspaperman James Harrison went to London to patent his commercial ice-machine system, known today as the refrigerator. Born from the humble beginnings when the journalist noticed the cooling effects of ether on his typewriter keys, Harrison’s system of compressed gas changed food handling and storage forever.

Black box recorder: 1953

Working on air crash investigations in the early 1950s, scientist David Warren realised that if cockpit audio and aircraft telemetry were automatically recorded, he could reconstruct the cause of an accident. And in 1953 he did just that, inventing the first ‘black box’. The value of the black box system was realised following a plane crash in Queensland in 1960, after that Australia became the first country in the world to introduce compulsory cockpit recording. Now investigators use them not only for crash investigations but also near-misses, in an attempt to solve problems before they occur.

Ultrasound 1962

Towards the end of the 1950s, concern was growing about the effect of x-rays on unborn babies, so a dedicated research team in Sydney was established. David Robinson and George Kossoff’s revolutionary 1962 image of an unborn baby was quickly followed by developments in breast scans, brain scans, abdominal imaging, and even eye health. This technology, developed for foetal health, has become an integral component in a huge range of medical fields.

Bionic Ear 1978

In 1978, after a decade of research, Australian surgeon Professor Graeme Clark completed the first successful cochlear implant. Known as the ‘bionic ear,’ the implant had seemed too complex ever to become reality, but Clark was relentless in his determination to improve interaction with the world for profoundly deaf people.

Wi-Fi 1992

In the early 1990s, with the whole world seeking to make the internet faster, more reliable, and more accessible, the CSIRO put together a small team of mathematicians and scientists to work on what is now considered one of the great Australian science success stories. Using techniques designed to better understand black holes, the team developed Wi-Fi technology, and changed the way we interact, engage and communicate.

History’s shown that there is simply no challenge that human ingenuity can’t overcome.

When the mid-summer heat hits, many of us reach for the air-conditioning remote and crank it into action.

For vulnerable people, air conditioning can be a literal lifesaver, which is why air conditioning is still valuable.

“I wouldn’t say that no building should ever have air-conditioning,” says Ken Maher, President of the Australian Institute of Architects and Fellow of Hassell, the design firm who consulted on Common Ground Housing, the design firm that consulted on Common Ground Housing, which aims to provide high-quality, low-cost housing for the homeless. “But I think what we want to do is minimise air-conditioning, especially with energy costs rising like they are.”

That means that for those of us who can minimise, there are some innovative solutions that could see us keeping our cool even as the temperatures rise.

Go with the air flow

Natural ventilation isn’t just a matter of putting an extra window into an apartment, however. In fact, it starts well before the first foundation is laid. “It’s almost a design ethic,” says Maher, who is also president of the Australian Institute of Architects.

“You have to have minimising or eliminating air-conditioning as an essential aim to be able to design for it. Then it’s about knowing the way natural environments work and having a sensible design that works with those natural elements.”

In simple terms, natural ventilation uses passive design elements to encourage the flow of air around a building. This is generally done via cross-ventilation – air moving through rooms by pressure difference or convection as temperature differences force hot air to rise and cool air to sink.

“Designing for natural ventilation relies on the fabric and orientation of the building,” Maher says. “If you have huge windows facing west with a lot of heat load, that doesn’t help. And daylight is another consideration – daylight works well with carefully located windows but there’s always a balance between heat load and daylight.”

Get site specific

In the northern areas of Australia, building design is about controlling heat with shade and dealing with humidity. Around the mid-zones of the country, including in Sydney and Perth, the climate is a little more temperate. While in the southern areas, heating is more of an issue.

Maher believes a lot can be achieved through clever design. “You can do things such as bringing air through densely vegetated spaces to reduce the heat load or reduce the temperature via evaporative cooling,” he says.

“In the cooler areas, you can design homes so that slabs are heated by the sun, allowing the warm air to rise rather than using energy to pump warm air through houses.”

And while the rising costs of using an air-conditioner are a significant factor behind a potential shift in design and construction, it’s not the only driver of change.

“Fresh air is the healthiest air you can have,” says Maher. “So it’s not only more economic from a capital and running costs point of view, it makes the home or workplace healthier and more productive.”

Your solar system is made up of several different components. Depending on the system you’ve purchased, you’ll have a number of solar panels secured to your roof with mounting equipment and an inverter.

More advanced systems come with performance monitoring equipment, and if you’ve got a solar-plus-storage system, you’ll also have a rechargeable battery.

Your solar panels do most of the hard work, taking in photons from the sun’s rays and turning them into DC or ‘Direct Current’ energy. An inverter takes the DC energy produced by your panels and converts it into AC or ‘Alternating Current’ power that can be used by household appliances.

Performance monitoring equipment can help you to keep track of how much energy your system is actually producing, and can help you identify any faults to ensure your system is running at its most efficient.

You can get this equipment wired into your switchboard, although some inverters come with a monitoring device already inbuilt. The most sophisticated models can even feed data to a programme that you can access via the Internet or a mobile app.

Solar-plus-storage systems include a rechargeable battery that can store any excess energy your solar panels create and you don’t use simultaneously.

While a battery definitely reduces reliance on the electricity grid, the vast majority of households find that going off-grid isn’t a realistic possibility just yet: most people consume far more energy than they can produce and store.

Consequently, most solar-plus-storage systems will still need to be connected to the grid. Systems with both batteries and grid connection work off a combination of power produced by the system’s own solar panels, power stored in the battery, and power drawn down from the grid.

So where does your solar-plus-storage system get its energy from?

Bright, sunny days

On a bright day with plenty of sunshine, your solar panels will be producing energy. Solar panels aren’t affected by air temperature, so even if it’s a cold winter day, as long as it’s sunny and your panel is positioned out of the shade with unobstructed access to the sun’s rays, you should be able to generate power during sunlight hours.

When your solar panels are producing energy, the power they create will go straight to run any household appliances that are being used simultaneously.

Very sunny conditions

Solar panels create most of their energy during the middle of the day, while most of us are out at work and not at home to use it. When your system is creating more energy than is being used, the excess energy will either flow back into the grid, or to charge your battery if you have one.

Once your battery is fully charged, any excess energy produced will then go into the grid.

Most households with solar power systems are net metered. This means that any energy you send back to the grid will earn you a ‘feed-in tariff’ that can be credited against the cost of any energy you use from the grid.

Cloudy days and night-time

On days when there is limited sunshine, your solar panels will not be able to produce as much power as your home needs. At night, your system will not be able to produce any energy at all. If you have a battery, your home can use the energy that your panels have previously created and stored.

If you don’t have a battery, or your battery becomes depleted, you’ll consume energy from the grid and pay for it at your usual rates.

The benefits of a battery

Adding a 4kWh solar battery to a 5kW solar system can increase the amount of self-generated electricity a household consumes from 30 to 60%, ultimately saving you money and reducing your carbon footprint.

What’s more, in the event of a power outage in your area, certain types of batteries will even allow you to use their stored energy while you’re waiting for full grid service to be resumed.

Changing behaviours in your workplace to be more energy efficient isn’t just good for your business financially; it can also help make your workplace more sustainable.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates that during 2011-2012, business expenditure on electricity totalled $20.2 Billion Dollars in Australia. While we’re getting savvier at home about how to save on our energy bills, we spend the majority of our days at work so it’s time to start thinking about practical ways to make changes around the office.

And it isn’t just up to business owners to make the change, employees should think about how they can make a difference too. The key to reducing energy consumption is getting everyone involved.

Switch it off when it’s not in use

Small changes in electricity usage can help reduce your energy bills, as well making your business more environmentally conscious.

Energy savings can be made by encouraging staff to make sure all lights are switched off when the office isn’t in use, making use of natural lighting where possible, and switching to compact florescent bulbs.

While computers are essential to the day-to-day running of many businesses, they’re also a major energy zapper. Reduce unnecessary energy usage by unplugging computers over the weekend or by setting monitors to automatically turn off after 10 minutes of inactivity - screensavers won’t save energy.

Using office machines as efficiently as possible can cut costs, lower greenhouse gas emissions and possibly extend the life of the equipment. Think about turning off equipment like printers and photocopiers at the end of the working day.

Keep energy efficiency in mind

When choosing fixtures and appliances always look out for the Energy Rating label to make sure you make the more energy efficient choice. The better the energy rating (shown by the more stars there are on the label); the less you’ll spend on running costs over the life of the purchase.

Also consider choosing to buy laptops instead of desktops, they typically consume less than half the energy! Smaller monitors also help you save on your energy bills with research showing you can reduce your monitor’s energy consumption by as much as 30% simply by using one that is two inches smaller.

Think sustainability in the workplace

Start by getting an understanding of your workplaces energy consumption. Once you know what you are spending, you can see the difference when you start saving!

The next step is encouraging awareness of sustainability around the office. It could be as simple as sending a weekly reminder for everyone to unplug their computers and switch off the lights before they head off to enjoy the weekend. Getting employees on board and making small changes in the way they work will reduce both wastage and the size of energy bills.

Running a small business is easier when you have the right partners. We’re one of Australia’s most experienced retailers - check out our online small business quote tool.

Weatherize your Home

Air Sealing Air leaks are among the greatest sources of energy loss in a home. One of the quickest

energy- and money-saving tasks you can do is caulk, seal, and weatherstrip all seams, cracks, and openings to the outside.

By sealing uncontrolled air leaks, you can save 10%–20% on your heating and cooling bills. Following an energy audit, you may have a number of recommended energy saving projects you are considering. Prioritize weatherization projects to quickly improve the efficiency and comfort of your home.

To identify air leaks, check around your walls, ceilings, windows, doors, lighting and plumbing fixtures, switches, and electrical outlets. Look for gaps, improperly applied caulk and weatherstripping, and doors and windows that don’t close tightly.

On a windy day, carefully hold a lit incense stick or a smoke pen next to your windows, doors, electrical boxes, plumbing fixtures, electrical outlets, ceiling fixtures, attic hatches, and other places where air may leak. If the smoke stream travels horizontally, you have located an air leak.

After you identify all air leaks, do the following:

• Weatherstrip doors and windows.

• Caulk and seal air leaks where plumbing, ducting, or electrical wiring comes through walls, floors, ceilings, and soffits over cabinets.

• Install foam gaskets behind outlet and switch plates on walls.

• Use foam sealant on larger gaps around window trims, baseboards, and other places where air may leak out.

• Check for open fireplace dampers and make sure they properly close.

• Consider an inflatable chimney balloon to seal your fireplace flue when not in use. Fireplace flues are made from metal, and repeated heating and cooling can cause the metal to warp or break over time, creating a channel for air loss. Inflatable chimney balloons are made from durable plastic and can be removed easily and reused hundreds of times. If you forget to remove the balloon before making a fire, the balloon will automatically deflate within seconds of coming into contact with heat.

• Seal air leaks around fireplace chimneys, furnaces, and gas-fired water heater vents with fire-resistant materials such as sheet metal or sheet rock and furnace cement caulk.

• Install an insulated box to seal leaky attic stairs.

Insulation

After you complete air sealing, consider whether you need to add insulation. Insulation is essential for reducing heat flow through a home’s building envelope (the parts of the home that separate the interior from the outside elements, including the walls, roof, and foundation).

The greater the difference between the indoor and the outdoor temperatures, the more energy it will take to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home. Adding insulation between the indoors and the outdoors reduces that energy demand, improves the comfort of your home, and saves you money.

An insulation’s R-value is a measure of its resistance to heat flow; the higher the R-value, the greater the insulating effectiveness. R-value is dependent on the type of insulation and the thickness.

When purchasing insulation, refer to the insulation packaging or the paper backing of rolled insulation to find the R-value.

Consult the ENERGY STAR recommended insulation levels for retrofitting existing wood-framed buildings to determine how much insulation you should consider adding to your home. For

A home energy professional can help you evaluate options for your specific home.

Consider factors such as your climate, home design, and budget when selecting insulation for your home.

The future is here, and it’s quietly revolutionising offices around the world. Thanks to the rise of smart technology, offices are becoming more efficient and more productive, while also freeing employees from the burden of power points, desks and the nine-to-five grind.

Smart products aren’t a new concept. A networked office, powered by equipment working in tandem, has been imagined since at least the 1950s. But it’s only in the past five years or so that the reality has started to match up with the expectations.

As the technology has become more reliable and affordable, smart products have started to find their way into our homes and offices, often without us even realizing. It could be as simple as a TV connected to the internet, or an air conditioning system that links to a phone app.

These innovations may not seem like a huge leap forward on their own, but when viewed as part of a broader movement, they have the potential to quietly revolutionise our lives. A connected office means a healthier, more efficient and more productive workplace, and that benefits everyone.

A connected office is an efficient office

‘Smart’ switches allow you to monitor energy usage throughout the office, see exactly where it is being used and make any alterations to improve efficiency. By linking individual pieces of equipment to a smartphone or tablet, it’s possible to pinpoint waste, remotely switch off equipment and program schedules that turn the power off in certain areas.

Give that the bulk of your time is spent outside the office (though it sometimes may not seem it) it makes sense not to have office equipment buzzing away when no-one is around.

Retire the cubicles and work from anywhere

Cloud printing means employees are no longer reliant on that one printer that always seems to have a paper jam. The technology allows users to connect to the closest and most convenient equipment, enabling far greater mobility throughout an office or building.

This sort of cloud-based technology is becoming more and more common in the office, and means traditional floor plans and allocated desk spaces can be abandoned in favour of more organic solutions.

Whether that’s employees working remotely, or hot-desking around the office to encourage better communication, it’s definitely making the cubicle layout increasingly obsolete.

Smarter temperature means better productivity

If you’ve ever worked in an office where one half of the room is freezing cold and the other is uncomfortably warm, you’ll appreciate how frustrating the constant battle over the air conditioner can be. Smart thermostats help alleviate this problem, allowing you to monitor and adjust temperature throughout the building from the palm of your hand.

Maintaining proper ventilation and airflow in an office has both energy-saving benefits and broader health benefits. Sick leave costs businesses millions every year; some of these illnesses could likely be avoided through the slight reduction or increase of temperature.

A little music

Music can have a huge impact on workplace mood and productivity – just ask any retail professional. The office is no different, and streaming different music or soundtracks to different areas – for example the foyer, the bathroom or reception – is a subtle but effective way of altering the area’s dynamic. Modern music technology can often be handled from the comfort of your phone or tablet.

Greener offices are happier offices

A greener office doesn’t just look nice, it provides all sort of health benefits. There are now technologies that ensure planets stay alive and healthy thanks to sensors that monitor moisture levels in the soil and send watering reminders to nominated phones.

While there’s a huge variety of smart office technology on the market, the common theme is shared, mutual benefits. These products create healthier, happier and more user-friendly work environments. At the same time, they provide real cost savings for organisations.

If you’re concerned about spiking office power bills, it might be time for a new energy plan.

You may have heard that a low power factor can increase the costs of your bills. This alone is reason enough to want to know more about what it is, how your business measures up and what you can do to go about improving it. Let’s start with what it is.

Understanding Power Factor

In buildings today, energy can be used in two ways. Firstly, there’s the power that is used in equipment (heating, lighting, driving motors), this is known as real power. A site may also draw power which is not directly used, known as reactive power. The combination of these two is called apparent (or total) power.

Think of it in terms of a water bill – you use water for showering, doing the dishes, watering the plants. This is the ‘real’ water consumption. If you have a few leaks around the house – your tap in kitchen sink is dripping and you’ve burst a pipe in the automatic watering system, this is your ‘reactive’ water consumption. The combination of the two would be ‘apparent’ (or total) water consumed.

If you have many leaks, your water bill will be much higher than it should be – you’re paying for water that you don’t actually need. In a similar fashion, if your site has a poor power factor, you could be paying for energy that cannot be used.

What is a low Power Factor?

Power Factor is simply the measure of the efficiency of the power being used. Its calculation uses the relationship between real and apparent power (kVA). It describes how efficiently energy is used on a site and is scored from 0 - 1.

A score of 1 means that 100% of the power consumed on the site is used by equipment and appliances. A score of 0 means that 0% of the power consumed is used by equipment – to use the water analogy, it’s all leaks! So, the higher the power factor the more efficient your site is at utilising the supplied power. But what’s it meant to be?

Under the Australian Distribution Code in Victoria, electricity consumers in Victoria can be required to maintain a power factor of at least 0.75 (see table for values).

Power Factor and Your Electricity Bill

Power Factor can have a significant impact on your power bill. A low power factor can prove costly, especially for facilities engaged in manufacturing that uses a lot of machinery.

A business with a low power factor may result in higher capital expenditures and operating costs for the electricity supply company, compared to a similar business with a high power factor. And these higher costs usually have to be passed on to all customers in the form of higher tariff rates.

There are a variety of reasons that a site may have poor power factor some of the main causes include:

Inductive loads such as transformersAC motorsWelding equipmentArc furnaces and fluorescent lighting

For household owners or facility owners, determining the state of your Power Factor is not an easy task. This is where technology comes.

How to measure your power factor

There are a variety of ways to measure your power factor:

Energy management systems (like carbonTRACK)Logging devices on equipmentMeasurement and logging equipment installed on individual circuitsElectricity metering may also have the ability to record power factor (typically ½ hour interval data) for the entire site and this information may be available from your electricity retailer

Once you have the knowledge that your power factor is low you can take actions to improve it. If you do not have the skills in-house to assess and correct power factor, you may engage a specialist to assist you to assess your power factor and identify any causes and solutions to improving your power factor.

Tackling Power Factor Correction

There are many energy efficiency companies that offer Power Factor Services. Power factor correction service providers often do the following:

Identify the amount of savings that can be achieved through power factor correctionSuggest appropriate power factor solutions to achieve an improved power factorMonitor power factor improvements and its impact moving forward

The benefits of correcting power factor can include:

Reduced cost: Reduction in kVA demand and therefore electricity costs.Equipment life: Extend the life of your equipment.Compliance: Compliance with regulatory codes.Expansion: More power available for site expansion without the need for new switchboards and cable.

By improving your Power Factor you minimise wasted energy, improve the efficiency of your site, free up more kW from the network, and save money!