Help please...
Bulletin board
Post questions and answers. Highlights from past discussion threads are quoted below.
Hand-held data capture
S.C. would like to know if anyone can recommend a hand-held meter-reading aid (maybe based on a PDA device?) that could be interfaced with an Excel-based record-keeping system.28 Aug 2006: Stark Software International offers the 'Meteor'
Response from Paul Martin of TEAM:
The easiest and prefered way to achieve this is to use any PDA with GPRS and web browser capability. This way one can put the data directly into the Sigma software database. This also has the advantage that checks can be done instantly to advise the operater of any errors. This assumes though there there is GPRS (mobile phone) coverage in the area. There would be virtually no effort at this end to do this.Response from Steve Martin of Optima:Another solution would be to either write a small java application or input the data into a spreadsheet within the PDA. This could be uploaded through a web interface or emailed in. This is more fiddly and would need an agreed format and an interface writing.
The devices suggested range in price between £350 and £500 although some mobile phones may be capable of doing these tasks. Suggested devices are:
- Nokia Communicator
- Pocket PC - XDA is the O2 version and there is a T Molile equivalent
- Handspring Trio
Hope this helps
We've got systems installed that use a product called "Pocket Power View" from PRI (www.pri.co.uk). It works on a pocket PC that takes [half-hourly] data from the meter then outputs the readings to a PC that we then import. It appears to work well and is quite robust since it's working at industrial sites. There are other options as well apparently. For more information contact Alan Ward on 07831 422457.If anyone has any further suggestions please email us - thanks V.V., 7 May 06
Sankey diagram softwareThe product recommended by one of our readers in October has been upgraded: click here for feedback from the user and news from the supplier.(V.V. 2 Dec 05) |
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What does "carbon neutral" mean?"
T.E. asked me to provide a "watertight definition". Here goes:A carbon-neutral process, building, or vehicle operates on energy sources which are not derived from fossil fuels. Alternatively, if fossil-derived fuels are used, their carbon emissions can be offset by deliberate activities that permanently absorb an equivalent amount of carbon; the combination can be claimed to be carbon-neutral.This is rarely quite the whole story because the production of biofuels or uranium (for example) will entail using some fossil fuel. Interestingly, using electricity generated from landfill, mine offgas, and other 'fugitive' methane sources, is better than carbon-neutral because for each molecule of carbon dioxide the power station emits, it removes a molecule of methane which would have been over 20 times as damaging as a greenhouse gas. (V.V. 2 Dec 05)