Sust-it

Sust-it is the UK's first energy efficiency website[1] for electrical appliances and products. It ranks products by their running costs and CO2 emissions based on average usage, and presents this information in financial terms. It has researched over 11,000 household electrical products from TV's to washing machines. Sust-it featured on The Independent's 101 Really Useful Websites.[2] and products. In 2008 Sust-it was shortlisted in the Green Awards for Creativity in sustainability, and in 2009 received highly commended in the UK CEED[3] eWell-Being Awards.

Sust-it
Type of site
Consumer advice and action, price comparison
Available inEnglish
HeadquartersGloucestershire
Founder(s)Ross Lammas
IndustryEnergy efficiency
URLhttp://www.sust-it.net
Launched2007

Their research has been used to highlight energy efficiency improvements in televisions between 2006 and 2011.[4] Sust-it data has been used by the International Energy Agency as part of their studies on Efficient Electrical End-Use Equipment.[5]

Background

Sust-it was launched in January 2007, after being conceived and created by multimedia producer Ross Lammas. It came about after he built an ecohouse and discovered how difficult it was to access meaningful information on the energy consumption of household electrical products.[1] The potential CO2 savings from energy efficient appliances had been well documented.[6] EU Energy labeling and Eco-design of Energy-related products has helped raise the energy efficiency of household electrical goods.[7]

Data sources

Sust-it researches information on energy consumption from manufacturers published data and makes calculations based on average domestic UK energy prices. Annual kgCO2 is calculated using the National Energy Foundation formula for UK mains electricity. In 2011 Sust-it added water usage costs to relevant appliances, using the Ofwat UK average cost of 0.12p/litre. Computer and printer data is based on Energy Star's TEC testing and calculation.

Business Model

Sust-it is financed by advertisers, who pay on a pay per click, or by commissions on sales, revenues are also generated by providing energy consumption data for researchers[5] and retailers. They do not receive any funding from any Government agencies, trusts or independent charities.

References
  1. Empowered to cut running costs, The Times (London). 27 January 2007. Retrieved on 9 January 2013.
  2. 101 Really Useful Websites, The Independent (London). 11 June 2007. Retrieved on 9 January 2013.
  3. National eWell-Being Awards 2009, UK CEED. Retrieved on 9 January 2013.
  4. Vaughan, Adam (29 July 2011) Flat-screen TV electricity consumption falls by 60% , The Guardian (London). Retrieved on 9 January 2013.
  5. Brocklehurst, Fiona (April 2012). Energy efficiency benchmarking report on residential laundry dryers (Version 2.1), 4E - Efficient Electrical End-Use Equipment. Retrieved on 9 January 2013.
  6. Boardman, Brenda et al (November 1995). Decade (Domestic Equipment and Carbon Emissions) Second year report 1995, Energy and Environmental Programme, Environmental Change Unit, University of Oxford. Retrieved on 11 January 2013.
  7. Saving Energy Through Better Products and Appliances Defra. December 2009. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
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