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A laptop uses far less power and emits less CO2 than a desktop, but always be aware of the stand-by mode of your computer and peripherals.
A comparative table helps you to find wich low-energy bulb or led can replace the traditional bulb and halogen bulb.
Pellet stoves have several advantages: they are easy to use and efficient, as well as being environmentally-friendly. But they're also very expensive
A home battery may be worth it if you have photovoltaic panels in order to make the most of the electricity you produce. However, batteries remain a big investment, and it is currently difficult to get a return on that investment without a grant.
A combined heat and power (CHP) system generates both electrical power and heat from a single fuel (e.g. natural gas). The system comes with a whole host of benefits. The technology was devised to serve large buildings such as hospitals. Today however, it is also available to be used in single family homes .
From now on the packaging of all light bulbs has to include an energy label. This label gives you information about the energy efficiency, the light output, the power and the lifespan of the bulb.
Internet use means energy consumption and, therefore, CO2 production. Information and communication technologies yearly account for about 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. And this figure increases by 5 to 7% each year!
A tonne of carbon dioxide is a return trip between Paris and New York by plane. In terms of volume, this represents a cube the size of a three-storey building, or 8.20 metres in edge length.
Yes, the heat pump can be an effective and very energy-efficient solution for heating an apartment, even during renovation. You just have to pay attention to a few particularities of the situation.
As the name implies, geothermal energy is a heating technique that exploits heat from the ground.Non-polluting, renewable and free, this energy source is of interest in the fight against global warming.
It is difficult to give a precise answer to this question. In fact, the direct and indirect CO2 emissions of your home depend on a great many parameters: the energy performance of your home, the electricity consumption, the type of heating, etc.
Green gas is produced through the transformation of organic matter by bacteria. Unlike natural gas, it is not a fossil fuel, but a renewable energy.
You can sell your green certificates at the market price to an energy supplier or an intermediary.
Based on data, you can easily calculate how much it costs to recharge the battery on your electric bike. Here’s an explanation.
A private individual who generates green electricity receives, by default, one green certificate per 1,000 kWh for 10 years starting from the date of certification of their installation. In Brussels, a multiplication coefficient entitles consumers to additional green certificates.
Everything depends on the space available on your home and the power you wish to generate.
In Belgium, 1.7 million people use fuel oil for heating. In Brussels, 16% of all boilers operate using this type of fuel. Yet the sale of oil-fired boilers is set to be banned from 2035. Fortunately, there are alternatives
Yes it is! Combining a condensing boiler and a thermodynamic boiler allows you to harness the 2 most efficient technologies available on the market for your heating and hot water. A win-win solution for your pocket and the environment!
Electric cars are often presented as “non-polluting” or “zero emission” vehicles. But they are not necessarily less polluting than conventional vehicles!
The smart meter or intelligent meter is an electronic meter that is capable of recording and transmitting power consumption data. Smart meters will be rolled out in Brussels gradually.
Heat exchangers are essential but often overlooked devices that play a crucial role in our daily lives.
A heat pump powered by natural gas recovers the heat that is released as part of the combustion process. Which means the appliance delivers enhanced heat efficiency that outstrips its electric counterpart and it is well placed to replace a heating boiler.
There are three main groups of electric vehicles: fully electric, standard hybrids and rechargeable hybrids.
When the choice of how to heat the water is sound, the expense can change from excessive to very affordable - and very ecological...
For economic and environmental reasons, gradually switching from natural gas heating to renewable sources makes sense! The process is simple.
By adopting good habits and improving your installation, you will use less hot water and relieve your wallet.
Smart charging systems make it possible to control and optimize the recharging of electric vehicle batteries. A good plan for managing the balance of the electricity network and for recharging your vehicle at a lower cost!
Electricity is the same for every home in Belgium. But if you choose a green electricity contract, your supplier undertakes to produce or buy a quantity of electricity equivalent to your consumption generated using renewable sources.
In Belgium, solar panels generally achieve their best performance in May and June, when the weather conditions are most favourable.
Energy labels provide information about the consumption of devices. This means that you can compare them and make a fully informed purchase.
Geothermal energy can be an excellent option for more sustainable heating in the city, provided you have the required budget and sufficient outdoor space.
Hydrogen is one of the so-called alternative gases, which are either low-carbon or of totally renewable origin. As gases, they are therefore easily storable!
The new Renolution grants cover 45 types of work carried out in relation to energy efficiency, home renovation and façade improvement.
Nearly Zero Energy (NZE) or ‘Bijna-energieneutraal’ (BEN) is a European Directive imposed on all new buildings by 2021. However, in the Brussels Region, the even stricter passive-house standard will apply from 2015.
Check the state and cleanliness of your photovoltaic panels regularly. Make sure that the installation’s cables are in good condition and that your inverter and green meter are working properly.
Hybrid heating systems offer an affordable solution for heating your home more sustainably, without the need for major works.
The depletion of oil and gas reserves is on the horizon. At the same time, renewable energy is taking off and nuclear fusion is being tested.
When you are much more at home, you also consume more energy. A few simple saving tips will immediately have an impact on your energy bill.
Your installation has to fulfil technical and regulatory conditions for you to be entitled to green certificates.
In Brussels the roll-out of the smart meter is being organised by Sibelga, the power and gas distribution network operator.
In 2021, in Brussels, you can obtain grants for most sustainable investments in your home, commonhold or business premises.
The energy transition is the evolution of our old energy production and consumption methods, based on fossil fuels, towards a new system that is more sustainable and better adapted to today's reality.
With a PV heater you can store excess electricity generated by your photovoltaic panels as domestic hot water. This solution is worth considering if you produce more electricity than you consume.
Regular visual inspection and servicing, every three years, by a qualified technician are sufficient for the efficient maintenance of your solar water heater and for your system to work properly.
If we don't do anything about it, digital pollution is liable to correspond to the worldwide CO2 emissions from road transport. But what can you, as an internet user, do to limit this pollution?
New appliances can save you up to 30% on your bill. In addition, many old appliances are incompatible with the new rich gas being deployed in Brussels.
Yes! Wood heating, solar panels and heat pumps are just some of the options for using renewable energy in your home, even if you live in an urban area.
Homegrade is a non-profit association financed mainly by the Brussels-Capital Region. Its mission is to provide information free of charge for the people of the region on everything relating to their living environment, the central idea being sustainability.
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The answer to all your energy questions in Brussels
