Jul 12, 2009
Energy Saving Tips: By Google
Here are some more resources to help you find ways to reduce your energy use.
Heating and Cooling:
- Weatherstrip and caulk your windows and doors
- Seal and insulate your home
- Consider installing a Geothermal Heat Pump to heat and cool your home, save up to 70% on your heating and cooling costs.
- Clean your furnace's filter monthly
- Consider buying an ENERGY STAR furnace or air conditioner, insulating and sealing ducts and relocating heating and air conditioning vents.
- Cover your hot water heater with an insulation blanket
- Consider installing energy efficient windows or storm windows
Saving Water:
- Reduce the temperature of your hot water heater to 120F or less (or until using little to no cold water in the bath/shower)
- Install a low flow shower head (there are some nice ones out now-a-days)
- Solar hot water heaters can reduce your hot water heating bill
- Wash clothes in cold water
- Run full loads in the washing machine and dishwasher
- If available, use the energy savings settings on your dishwasher and washing machine
- Consider air drying your clothes. saves energy, money and keeps your clothes lasting longer.
- Take a shorter shower
Computing Equipment:
- Learn how to set power management on your computer
- Download the Google Desktop Power Management Gadget
- Buy a Climate Savers certified energy efficient computer
- Plug your computer peripherals (printer, scanner, speakers, fax machine) into a powerstrip and power down when not in use.
Electronics and Home Appliances:
- Turn down the brightness on your TV and computer monitor
- Look for and purchase ENERGY STAR appliances and electronics
- Consider replacing that old, second refrigerator in the basement - This calculator determines how much energy your refrigerator is using
- Plug home electronics into a powerstrip and turn off when not in use. Or unplug appliances that you rarely use - when was the last time you used that VCR?
- Don't keep your refrigerator and freezer too cold. Set temperature between 36-38 degrees F and freezers at 0-5 degrees.
Other Energy-saving Tips:
- Grist: 7 ways to cut your energy use
- Alliance to Save Energy: No-Cost Low-Cost Tips for Saving Money & Energy
- Department of Energy: Additional No-Cost / Low Cost Tips to Save Energy
- Carbon footprint calculator
- ACEEE: Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings
- Home Energy Savers: Calculate your home's energy footprint
- Get a home energy audit
Government Programs:
- Department of Energy Weatherization Assistance Program
- Map of government and utility programs that provide incentives for energy efficiency investments
Google PowerMeter
"If you cannot measure it, you cannot improve it."
Lord Kelvin
How much does it cost to leave your TV on all day? What about turning your air conditioning 1 degree cooler? Which uses more power every month — your dishwasher or your washing machine? Is your household more or less energy efficient than similar homes in your neighborhood?
Its nearly impossible to make informed choices about electricity. This is a problem but also a huge opportunity for us all to save money and help the environment by reducing our power usage. Studies show that access to your household's personal energy information is likely to save you 5–15% on your monthly bill. Even greater savings are possible if you use this information to see the value of retiring your old refrigerator, installing a new air conditioner or insulating your home. The potential impact of large numbers of people achieving similar efficiencies is even more exciting. For every six households that save 10% on electricity, for instance, we reduce carbon emissions as much as taking one conventional car off the road (see sources and calculation).
At Google we're helping enable a future where access to personal electricity information helps everyone make smarter energy choices. Google PowerMeter shows consumers their electricity consumption in a secure Google gadget. Today we are testing the product with utility partners in the US, India, Germany, and Canada.
We think Google PowerMeter offers more useful and actionable feedback than complicated monthly paper bills that provide little detail on consumption or how to save energy. But Google PowerMeter is just a start; it will take a lot of different groups working together to create what the world really needs: a path to smarter power.
Partners
Our initial partners include a variety of utilities (large and small, rural and urban, privately held and municipally run) and one of the largest meter manufacturers. They all have one thing in common - a desire to serve their customers by providing access to detailed information that helps customers save energy and money. For now, Google Power Meter is only available to a limited group of customers, but we plan to expand our roll out later this year. Our partner utilities are helping to lead the charge to make the electricity grid smarter and we look forward to working with them and others.
Jul 5, 2009
A Glossary of Budget Terms
Appropriation Bill: It is presented to Parliament for its approval, so that the government can withdraw from the Consolidated Fund the amounts required for meeting the expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund. No amount can be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund till the Appropriation Bill is voted is enacted.
Capital Budget: It consists of capital receipts and payments. It also incorporates transactions in the Public Account. It has two components: Capital Receipt and Capital Expenditure.
Capital Expenditure: It consists of payments for acquisition of assets like land, buildings, machinery, equipment, as also investments in shares etc, and loans and advances granted by the Central government to state and union territory governments, government companies, corporations and other parties.
Capital Receipt: The main items of capital receipts are loans raised by the government from public which are called market loans, borrowings by the government from the Reserve Bank of India and other parties through sale of Treasury Bills, loans received from foreign governments and bodies and recoveries of loans granted by the Central government to state and union territory governments and other parties. It also includes proceeds from disinvestment of government equity in public enterprises.
Central Plan: It consists of the government’s budget support to the Plan and the internal and extra budgetary resources raised by public enterprises.
Consolidated Fund: It is made up of all revenues received by the government, loans raised by it, and also its receipts from recoveries of loans granted by it. All expenditure of the government is incurred from the Consolidated Fund and no amount can be withdrawn from the Fund without authorisation from Parliament.
Contingency Fund: It is an imprest placed at the disposal of the President and is used by the government to incur all its urgent and unforeseen expenditure. Parliamentary approval for such expenditure and for withdrawal of an equivalent amount from the Consolidated Fund is subsequently obtained and the amount spent from the Contingency Fund is recouped to the Fund.
Demands for Grants: It is a statement of estimates of expenditure from the Consolidated Fund and is required to be voted by the Lok Sabha. Generally, one Demand for Grant is presented in respect of each ministry or department.
Expenditure Budget: It contains expenditure estimates made for a scheme or programme under both revenue and capital heads. These estimates are brought together and shown on a net basis at one place by major heads.
Finance Bill: This contains the government’s proposals for levy of new taxes, modification of the existing tax structure or continuance of the existing tax structure beyond the period approved by Parliament. It is submitted to Parliament along with the Budget for its approval.
Fiscal Deficit: It is the difference between the revenue receipts plus certain non-debt capital receipts and the total expenditure including loans (net of repayments). This indicates the total borrowing requirements of the government from all sources.
Monetised Deficit: It indicates the level of support extended by the Reserve Bank of India to the government’s borrowing programme.
Non-Plan Expenditure: It includes both revenue and capital expenditure on interest payments, the entire defence expenditure (both revenue and capital expenditure), subsidies, postal deficit, police, pensions, economic services, loans to public enterprises and loans as well as grants to state governments, union territory governments and foreign governments.
Plan Expenditure: It includes both revenue and capital expenditure of the government on the Central Plan, Central assistance to state and union territory plans. It forms a sizeable proportion of the total expenditure of the Central government.
Primary Deficit: It is the difference between fiscal deficit and interest payments.
Public Account: It is an account in which money received through transactions not relating to the Consolidated Fund is kept. Besides the normal receipts and expenditure of the government relating to the Consolidated Fund, certain other transactions enter government accounts in respect of which the government acts more as a banker, for example, transactions relating to provident funds, small savings collections, other deposits etc. Such money is kept in the Public Account and the connected disbursements are also made from it. Public Account funds do not belong to the government and have to be paid back some time or the other to the persons and authorities who deposited them. Parliamentary authorisation for payments from the Public Account is not required.
Revenue Budget: It consists of the revenue receipts of the government (which is tax revenues plus other revenues) and the expenditure met from these revenues. It has two components: Revenue Receipt and Revenue Expenditure.
Revenue Deficit: It refers to the excess of revenue expenditure over revenue receipts. Revenue Expenditure: It is meant for the normal running of government departments and various services, interest charges on debt incurred by the government and subsidies. Broadly speaking, expenditure which does not result in creation of assets is treated as revenue expenditure. All grants given to state governments and other parties are also treated as revenue expenditure even though some of the grants may be for creation of assets.
Revenue Receipt: It includes proceeds of taxes and other duties levied by the Centre, interest and dividend on investments made by the government, fees and other receipts for services rendered by the government.
Source:business-standard(Government Budget Documents)
Appropriation Bill: It is presented to Parliament for its approval, so that the government can withdraw from the Consolidated Fund the amounts required for meeting the expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund. No amount can be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund till the Appropriation Bill is voted is enacted.
Capital Budget: It consists of capital receipts and payments. It also incorporates transactions in the Public Account. It has two components: Capital Receipt and Capital Expenditure.
Capital Expenditure: It consists of payments for acquisition of assets like land, buildings, machinery, equipment, as also investments in shares etc, and loans and advances granted by the Central government to state and union territory governments, government companies, corporations and other parties.
Capital Receipt: The main items of capital receipts are loans raised by the government from public which are called market loans, borrowings by the government from the Reserve Bank of India and other parties through sale of Treasury Bills, loans received from foreign governments and bodies and recoveries of loans granted by the Central government to state and union territory governments and other parties. It also includes proceeds from disinvestment of government equity in public enterprises.
Central Plan: It consists of the government’s budget support to the Plan and the internal and extra budgetary resources raised by public enterprises.
Consolidated Fund: It is made up of all revenues received by the government, loans raised by it, and also its receipts from recoveries of loans granted by it. All expenditure of the government is incurred from the Consolidated Fund and no amount can be withdrawn from the Fund without authorisation from Parliament.
Contingency Fund: It is an imprest placed at the disposal of the President and is used by the government to incur all its urgent and unforeseen expenditure. Parliamentary approval for such expenditure and for withdrawal of an equivalent amount from the Consolidated Fund is subsequently obtained and the amount spent from the Contingency Fund is recouped to the Fund.
Demands for Grants: It is a statement of estimates of expenditure from the Consolidated Fund and is required to be voted by the Lok Sabha. Generally, one Demand for Grant is presented in respect of each ministry or department.
Expenditure Budget: It contains expenditure estimates made for a scheme or programme under both revenue and capital heads. These estimates are brought together and shown on a net basis at one place by major heads.
Finance Bill: This contains the government’s proposals for levy of new taxes, modification of the existing tax structure or continuance of the existing tax structure beyond the period approved by Parliament. It is submitted to Parliament along with the Budget for its approval.
Fiscal Deficit: It is the difference between the revenue receipts plus certain non-debt capital receipts and the total expenditure including loans (net of repayments). This indicates the total borrowing requirements of the government from all sources.
Monetised Deficit: It indicates the level of support extended by the Reserve Bank of India to the government’s borrowing programme.
Non-Plan Expenditure: It includes both revenue and capital expenditure on interest payments, the entire defence expenditure (both revenue and capital expenditure), subsidies, postal deficit, police, pensions, economic services, loans to public enterprises and loans as well as grants to state governments, union territory governments and foreign governments.
Plan Expenditure: It includes both revenue and capital expenditure of the government on the Central Plan, Central assistance to state and union territory plans. It forms a sizeable proportion of the total expenditure of the Central government.
Primary Deficit: It is the difference between fiscal deficit and interest payments.
Public Account: It is an account in which money received through transactions not relating to the Consolidated Fund is kept. Besides the normal receipts and expenditure of the government relating to the Consolidated Fund, certain other transactions enter government accounts in respect of which the government acts more as a banker, for example, transactions relating to provident funds, small savings collections, other deposits etc. Such money is kept in the Public Account and the connected disbursements are also made from it. Public Account funds do not belong to the government and have to be paid back some time or the other to the persons and authorities who deposited them. Parliamentary authorisation for payments from the Public Account is not required.
Revenue Budget: It consists of the revenue receipts of the government (which is tax revenues plus other revenues) and the expenditure met from these revenues. It has two components: Revenue Receipt and Revenue Expenditure.
Revenue Deficit: It refers to the excess of revenue expenditure over revenue receipts. Revenue Expenditure: It is meant for the normal running of government departments and various services, interest charges on debt incurred by the government and subsidies. Broadly speaking, expenditure which does not result in creation of assets is treated as revenue expenditure. All grants given to state governments and other parties are also treated as revenue expenditure even though some of the grants may be for creation of assets.
Revenue Receipt: It includes proceeds of taxes and other duties levied by the Centre, interest and dividend on investments made by the government, fees and other receipts for services rendered by the government.
Source:business-standard(Government Budget Documents)
Budget 2009
Railway
NEW DELHI : Here are the highlights of the railway budget 200-2010 presented in parliament Friday by Railways minister Mamta Banerjee.
No increase in passenger fare and freight tariff
budget to have inclusive growth and expansion of railway network to every corner of the country
Plan outlay of rs.40,745 cr. proposed for 2009-2010, passenger amenities get high priority, to get 119% increase
Traffic receipts during 2008-09 increase by 11.4 % while freight loading grew @ 5% Special trains for perishable farm produce, facilities for transportation of rural craft.
Works for 7 new lines, gauge conversion of 17 lines and doubling of 13 lines to be taken up.
Faster parcel services proposed on three routs
Tatkal scheme to be made passenger friendly
Railway tickets to be made available through post offices and ‘mushkil aasaan’ mobile vans
Concession for press persons increased to 50%
Monthly ticket of rs. 25/- for unorganized sector/poor under ‘izzat’ scheme “only ladies’ emu trains at Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai
‘Yuva trains’ from rural hinterland to metros at concessional fare
12 new point-to-point ‘duranto’ trains
57 new trains, extension of 27 trains and increase in frequency of 13 trains and air-conditioned double-decker trains proposed
50 stations to be upgraded to world class stations
Long distance trains to have on-board doctors and infotainment services
Handicapped and aged persons to have more amenities
Special trains to ferry perishable agro products and rural handicrafts
Special fund for the development of north east railway
Quazigund-Anantnag line to be completed by next month
6560 railway staff quarters to be constructed and group‘d’ employees to get scholarships for their girl child
Railways to come out with while paper on financial status and vision-2020 document
Ref.: CommodityOnline
Year 2009-10 Budget India
On July 6th, Pranab Mukherjee is all set to present this year's Union Budget, making a comeback as Finance Minister (after more than two long decades). Not even our Indian cricketing ‘comeback’ heroes Mohinder Amarnath and Saurav Ganguly can hope to match that....
It would be an understatement to say that expectations from the upcoming Union Budget are running high. To my mind, the Finance Minister's job is akin to that of a wicket keeper in cricket where you are remembered not for the catches you take, but the ones you drop...
And so, just as every catch cannot always be taken, not everyone can be satisfied with the Budget. Nevertheless, almost everyone has a wish list and capital market participants are no exception.
Ref.: UTV News
NEW DELHI : Here are the highlights of the railway budget 200-2010 presented in parliament Friday by Railways minister Mamta Banerjee.
No increase in passenger fare and freight tariff
budget to have inclusive growth and expansion of railway network to every corner of the country
Plan outlay of rs.40,745 cr. proposed for 2009-2010, passenger amenities get high priority, to get 119% increase
Traffic receipts during 2008-09 increase by 11.4 % while freight loading grew @ 5% Special trains for perishable farm produce, facilities for transportation of rural craft.
Works for 7 new lines, gauge conversion of 17 lines and doubling of 13 lines to be taken up.
Faster parcel services proposed on three routs
Tatkal scheme to be made passenger friendly
Railway tickets to be made available through post offices and ‘mushkil aasaan’ mobile vans
Concession for press persons increased to 50%
Monthly ticket of rs. 25/- for unorganized sector/poor under ‘izzat’ scheme “only ladies’ emu trains at Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai
‘Yuva trains’ from rural hinterland to metros at concessional fare
12 new point-to-point ‘duranto’ trains
57 new trains, extension of 27 trains and increase in frequency of 13 trains and air-conditioned double-decker trains proposed
50 stations to be upgraded to world class stations
Long distance trains to have on-board doctors and infotainment services
Handicapped and aged persons to have more amenities
Special trains to ferry perishable agro products and rural handicrafts
Special fund for the development of north east railway
Quazigund-Anantnag line to be completed by next month
6560 railway staff quarters to be constructed and group‘d’ employees to get scholarships for their girl child
Railways to come out with while paper on financial status and vision-2020 document
Ref.: CommodityOnline
For next 6th July 2009
Year 2009-10 Budget India
On July 6th, Pranab Mukherjee is all set to present this year's Union Budget, making a comeback as Finance Minister (after more than two long decades). Not even our Indian cricketing ‘comeback’ heroes Mohinder Amarnath and Saurav Ganguly can hope to match that....
It would be an understatement to say that expectations from the upcoming Union Budget are running high. To my mind, the Finance Minister's job is akin to that of a wicket keeper in cricket where you are remembered not for the catches you take, but the ones you drop...
And so, just as every catch cannot always be taken, not everyone can be satisfied with the Budget. Nevertheless, almost everyone has a wish list and capital market participants are no exception.
Ref.: UTV News
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)