IEC International Electrotechnical Commission
wattwatt.com: Making an electrifying difference to climate change
Geneva, Switzerland (ots)
Electricity is a form of energy that we often take for granted - in our homes, hospitals, offices and factories. But certain ways of generating electricity can be major contributors to climate change. By using less electricity, using it more efficiently, using it more responsibly and looking for new or improved ways to generate it. We can all make a difference.
wattwatt.com is a Web 2.0 social network website that brings together people of all ages and nationalities interested in making a difference. It provides the means for more direct public involvement in helping identify priorities for consumers, industry and governments, and in finding the solutions - technical or behavioral - for increasing electrical energy efficiency.
Supported by the IEC, a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization, responsible for setting the world's electrical energy efficiency standards, wattwatt.com will facilitate the sharing of experiences, ideas and provide an open debate on one of the biggest challenges facing mankind.
With the IEC's support, wattwatt.com puts consumers and technology experts in touch, thereby highlighting where new standards could be improved or created, in areas such as electrical appliances, standby power and lighting technologies.
care4it: The Global Challenge for Schools
As one of first major initiatives, wattwatt.com is calling on the world's school children for help. care4it is the challenge organized by wattwatt.com and the IEC, with the support of the International Energy Agency (IEA), a leading organization that advises its member governments on energy policy.
care4it calls on schools around the world to submit their ideas for improving electrical energy efficiency. The winning school will receive a $10 000 cash prize and the chance to see their idea brought to reality. Prizes of $3 000 and $2 000 will be awarded for second and third place, respectively. Detailed entry information is available on wattwatt.com and the deadline for entries is Friday 28 March 2008. The winners will be announced in June 2008.
Commenting on the initiative, IEC General Secretary Ronnie Amit said: "This global challenge for schools will not only tap into the young minds around the world, but it will also help raise the awareness of the critical role played by electricity in our daily lives. A competition like this aims to get children involved creatively in proposing solutions for using electricity more efficiently or developing devices to use it differently, so helping modify the behaviour that will help mitigate the effects of climate change."
Nigel Jollands, Senior Policy Advisor at the IEA's Energy Efficiency and Environment Division said: "energy efficiency is an essential part of a sustainable energy future. We all need to play our part in using energy wisely. The care4it competition is an excellent effort to reach out to students - our energy managers of the future."
More information on care4it can be found at wattwatt.com/care4it.
About wattwatt.com
wattwatt.com (a play on the words 'what' and 'Watt' ) is a newly launched community on electrical energy efficiency. It is becoming a reference centre for the individual who is interested in and sensitive to electrical energy efficiency and the environment and who wants to share their ideas and benefit from what others have to tell. It is supported by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization (see below), while the platform was developed by Lausanne-based Electronlibre.
About the IEC (www.iec.ch)
The IEC is the world's leading organization that prepares and publishes International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies - collectively known as "electrotechnology". IEC standards cover a vast range of technologies from power generation, transmission and distribution to home appliances and office equipment, semiconductors, fibre optics, batteries, solar energy, nanotechnology and marine energy to mention just a few. Wherever you find electricity and electronics, you find the IEC supporting safety and performance, the environment, electrical energy efficiency and renewable energies. The IEC also manages conformity assessment schemes that certify whether equipment, systems or components conform to its International Standards.
About the IEA (www.iea.org)
The International Energy Agency (IEA) acts as energy policy advisor to 26 Member countries in their effort to ensure reliable, affordable and clean energy for their citizens. Founded during the oil crisis of 1973-74, the IEA's initial role was to co-ordinate measures in times of oil supply emergencies. As energy markets have changed, so has the IEA. Its mandate has broadened to incorporate the "Three E's" of balanced energy policy making: energy security, economic development and environmental protection. Current work focuses on climate change policies, market reform, energy technology collaboration and outreach to the rest of the world, especially major producers and consumers of energy like China, India, Russia and the OPEC countries.
Contact:
Jonathan Buck
Phone: +41/22/919'02'65
E-Mail: jjb@iec.ch