Energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions

Energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions are two very hot topics (no pun intended) at the moment in France. Of course the two topics are very much the same thing, in that the less energy that is used, the less that there are emissions of greenhouse gases. These are the gases in the atmosphere that absorb and emit radiation in the infra-red spectrum and they include water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and ozone. The second one in the list, carbon dioxide, is a by-product of energy generation and use, i.e. the combustion of fossil fuels and wood. In France, the government have launched the Grenelle de l'Environment. This is a state-backed drive towards the protection of the global environment and one of its targets is the reduction by 38% of the consumption of energy in existing buildings by 2020. To achieve this goal, it will require the intensive renovation of 400 000 homes each year from 2013 and the anticipated consequent increase of 120 000 jobs in the building renovation sector. So we have the initiate towards energy efficiency and the reduction of CO2 emissions, but what of today? ...Read More about Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Lightning

Since 2002, the French wiring regulations, NF C15-100, has defined the situations in which it is obligatory or strongly recommended to have a parafoudre in the installation. The requirement for a parafoudre is determined by the niveau kéraunique, or Nk level, for a particular department. This is the thunderstorm severity and it is calculated by the number of days that lightning is observed in a given department per year. If the resultant Nk figure is greater than 25 a parafoudre is obligatory on all domestic electrical installations unless the supply cabling is entirely underground, i.e. right back to the sub-station. In our region, the Dordogne (24) is the only department where the Nk figure is greater 25, whereas the Creuse (23) and the Haute Vienne (87) have a value of 23 and the Charente (16) has 21. This is not to say that a parafoudre is unnecessary in those areas, but it is not obligatory. ...Read More about Lightning in SW France

Smoke detectors

Five years after the law was originally proposed, the text to make the use of smoke alarms obligatory in all places of habitation has been published in the Journal Officiel. The law from 9 March 2010 means that at least one smoke detector must be fitted in all flats and houses, whether it is new or existing, within 5 years of the publication of this law. The text of the law is precise in that it is the responsibility of the occupant and not the owner to fit, maintain and ensure the good working order of the smoke detector. The law also requires that the occupant must notify their insurance company that they have fitted the device in their home and that the insurance company should make a reduction in the premium for the policy as a consequence. The publication of this law brings to an end a marathon of the legislative process, as it has been 5 years in development. ...Read More about Smoke Detectors France

Thermal-Dynamic Water Heater

As an alternative to solar heating for hot water, the thermal-dynamic water heater, which uses either ambiant air or extracted air, is a very attractive option. There is an economy in the order of 70% on the cost of producing domestic hot water when compared to a traditional electric water heater, known in french as a ballon chauffe-eau. Nowadays, highly efficient central heating systems make ecologically sound houses a reality. As a result, the production of hot water has tended to be more demanding in energy than the central heating. ...Read More about Thermal-Dynamic Water Heaters

Dim lights or blackouts?

If you felt a bit dim in December and again in mid-January, it probably wasn't your fault.  In fact during those two periods of unseasonably low temperatures (7-8°C below the normal) EDF turned down the power.  As a consequence of the wave of very cold air that passed over France, the demand for electricity increased and very nearly exceeded the capability of the network to satisfy the requirement.  In order to avoid blackouts, the power output was reduced by 5%.  On the evenings of the 6th and 7th of January, the consumption of electricity reached 91 000 MW,  according to Réseau de Transport d'Electricité (RTE).  They estimated that on the 11th, 12th and 13th of January the demand would set a new historic record, beating the 92 400MW consumed on 7 January 2009, but in fact the weather warmed slightly and demand fell back.  ...Read More about Electrical Blackouts in France

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