Many green taxes are raised to help fund Britain's attempt to generate a third of its electricity from wind power by 2020. However, the CBI, the business group, pointed out yesterday that many taxes have become "counter-productive".

Electricity saving for the interests of the nation and people has been ingrained into the actions of every citizen. By practical deeds, specific measures, many localities have effectively implemented the work of saving power.

Adobe Systems Inc. procured about 75 percent or 54 GWh of renewable energy-based electricity in 2010. Deutsche Bank and News Corp. procured 67 percent and 65 percent, respectively, of their electricity consumption from renewable energy sources while Starbucks and Nokia met 58 percent and 46 percent, respectively, of their energy consumption from renewable energy-based electricity.

Lighting is one of the important industries, which consumes 25% of the total national commercial electricity, plays an important role in socio-economic development of the country, contributes to political and social security of urban areas.

Bic Camera Inc.'s Ikebukuro head office in Toshima Ward reported that sales of air conditioners since April have risen 30 percent over a year ago and those of electric fans posted fourfold to fivefold increases. Highly energy-efficient refrigerators are also in big demand.

As of 2010, 57% of electricity in Latin America and the Caribbean stems from hydro sources while another 40% comes from thermoelectric power plants using fossil fuels and natural gas. Of the remainder, 2% comes from nuclear stations and 1% from wind, solar and geothermal plants.

Wadebridge in Cornwall has moved another step towards becoming the first solar powered town in the UK, as PV installations begin to go up across the municipality. The area aims to generate at least a third of its electricity from solar and wind power by 2015, which is the equivalent of 15,000MWh a year. By generating renewable energy at this level, Wadebridge will be able to benefit significantly from the UK’s feed-in tariff, enabling significant cash contributions for local community projects.

Ministers have tried to address public lack of trust in energy companies by offering assurances about the “Green Deal” – a policy designed to improve the energy efficiency of homes. Under this plan, any householder will be able to spend up to £10,000 making their home more energy efficient, funded by the savings from future gas and electricity bills.

Located in the province of Hai Duong, Hong Duong Co., Ltd. is an enterprise specialized in producing and processing agricultural products, foodstuffs and types of salt with the production capacity of 12,000 tons of salt per year. Although the equipment is relatively uniform and modern, each year, the company still consumes a lot of energy: 278,400 kWh of electricity per year and 367.2 tons of coal per year. How to reduce consumption of these resources is the main concern of the company's leaders.

Thai Nguyen is known not only as the revolutionary base, the cradle of the metallurgic industry, but also the center of education - training of Viet Bac, and ranks 3rd in the number of universities, colleges, secondary vocational schools located in the locality. Therefore, the demand for electricity is very high, the current maximum power consumption is 250MW, and the required power output is 4.5 million kWh per day, of which electricity for industrial production accounts for nearly 80%. So in recent years, Thai Nguyen has been actively implementing energy saving in all sectors from industrial production, offices to public lighting...

This was a prerequisite for building plans of sustainable development and more proper distribution of electric energy, thus overcoming the chronic shortage of electricity and helping businesses build a clear orientation for power efficiency so that they could reduce production costs and improve competitiveness.

At the Electricity Customer Conference in 2011, one of the typical reports on the most successful energy saving measures in 2010 was delivered by Quy Nhon Green Parks and Urban Lighting Ltd., whose measures not only beautified the city with high efficient lighting but also saved great amounts of electric energy. Correspondent of Vietnam Electricity Central Power Corporation Website (EVNCPC) had an interview with Mr. Do Dinh Phuong - Director of Quy Nhon Green Parks and Urban Lighting Ltd. on this issue.

According to Mr Vu Huy Quang - PV Power CEO, PV Power plants are operating stably, securely and efficiently, and have high power output. Four units of PV Power have generated commercial electricity: Ca Mau 1 and 2, Nhon Trach 1, Nhon Trach 2 with the stable annual power output of about 12.5 billion kWh, accounting for 15% of total electricity production nationwide. Particularly in 2010, PV Power's total commercial electricity output reached 12.685 billion kWh.

In a sunny corner of Italy that produces roses and olive oil, an American startup will get to demonstrate its technology to harvest both electricity and heat. Solergy, which is in the process of raising a B round of funding, plans to install a hybrid solar electric and thermal system on top of a greenhouse for the farm Azienda Agricola Ciccolella in the Puglia region, and intends to team up with Ciccolella to market Solergy’s systems to growers in the area, said Yoav Banin, Solergy’s CEO.

The Uboat concept design by Wyatt Little of Houston, Texas, tackles all the major issues associated with green living on a boat. Electricity for the Uboat is provided courtesy of 3 Schüco 180 Watt, 16 Volt solar panels, mounted to a green roof (which we assume can also grow herbs and veggies for human consumption).

According to Mr Nguyen Xuan Duong, General Director of Hung Yen Garment Joint Stock Company, in recent years, the company has significantly reduced electricity costs thanks to the use of energy saving lighting system and installation of energy saving devices for the sewing machine motors. Most recently, in 2009, the company invested nearly VND 200 million in installing Sewsaver device for 400W industrial sewing machines. Through one year of operation, 110 thousand kWh has been saved, over 85 tons of CO2 emissions has been reduced.

The Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) is all set to establish first on-grid solar electricity generation system in the country during the current year to overcome energy crisis.“This solar system and smart grid is becoming a reality in less than a year,” said PEC Chairperson Senator Rukhsana Zuberi, addressing a press conference Saturday.

The World Bank approved on earlier this week a new loan of US$330 million for Vietnam to support the mid-sized multipurpose Trung Son Hydropower Project (TSHPP) which will help meet growing domestic demand for electricity and bring flood control and irrigation benefits to rural and poor communities in Thanh Hoa Province.

Cement industry is one of the industries that have been making a significant contribution to economic growth in Vietnam. However, in face of the soaring prices of fuels such as gasoline, oil and electricity, it is meeting with a lot of difficulties. Technological innovation, costs reduction, quality improvement and energy efficiency are what the Viet Nam Cement Corporation is endeavoring for.

Along with the pressure of raising electricity prices, fuel prices, adjusting the VND/USD exchange rate, price of coal sold to cement households has risen by 40% since the beginning of April, which has added a greater burden to cement enterprises. According to Mr. Nguyen Van Thien, Chairman of Vietnam Cement Association, currently, the total energy costs account for 45% - 50% of cement production costs. An 18% increase in gasoline price, a 15.3% increase in electricity price and a 40% increase in coal price have made price of cement increase by 10% to 15%.