wattwatt.com: Making an electrifying difference to climate change

Geneva (Switzerland) 3 October (PROTEXT/ots) - Electricity is a form ofenergy that we often take for granted - in our homes, hospitals, officesand factories. But certain ways of generating electricity can be majorcontributors to climate change. By using less electricity, using it moreefficiently, using it more responsibly and looking for new or improved waysto generate it. We can all make a difference.

wattwatt.com is a Web 2.0 social network website that brings togetherpeople of all ages and nationalities interested in making a difference. Itprovides the means for more direct public involvement in helping identifypriorities for consumers, industry and governments, and in finding thesolutions - technical or behavioral - for increasing electrical energyefficiency.

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 providean open debate on one of the biggest challenges facing mankind.

With the IEC’s support, wattwatt.com puts consumers and technology expertsin touch, thereby highlighting where new standards could be improved orcreated, in areas such as electrical appliances, standby power and lightingtechnologies.

care4it: The Global Challenge for Schools

As one of first major initiatives, wattwatt.com is calling on the world’sschool children for help. care4it is the challenge organized bywattwatt.com and the IEC, with the support of the International EnergyAgency (IEA), a leading organization that advises its member governments onenergy policy.

care4it calls on schools around the world to submit their ideas forimproving 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 andthe deadline for entries is Friday 28 March 2008. The winners will beannounced in June 2008.

Commenting on the initiative, IEC General Secretary Ronnie Amit said: "Thisglobal challenge for schools will not only tap into the young minds aroundthe world, but it will also help raise the awareness of the critical roleplayed by electricity in our daily lives. A competition like this aims toget children involved creatively in proposing solutions for usingelectricity more efficiently or developing devices to use it differently,so helping modify the behaviour that will help mitigate the effects ofclimate change."

Nigel Jollands, Senior Policy Advisor at the IEA’s Energy Efficiency andEnvironment Division said: "energy efficiency is an essential part of asustainable energy future. We all need to play our part in using energywisely. The care4it competition is an excellent effort to reach out tostudents - our energy managers of the future."

More information on care4it can be found at http://wattwatt.com/care4it.

About wattwatt.com

wattwatt.com (a play on the words 'what' and 'Watt') is a newly launchedcommunity on electrical energy efficiency. It is becoming a referencecentre for the individual who is interested in and sensitive to electricalenergy efficiency and the environment and who wants to share their ideasand benefit from what others have to tell. It is supported by theInternational Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), a not-for-profit,non-governmental organization (see below), while the platform was developedby Lausanne-based Electronlibre.

About the IEC (www.iec.ch)

The IEC is the world's leading organization that prepares and publishesInternational Standards for all electrical, electronic and relatedtechnologies - collectively known as "electrotechnology". IEC standardscover a vast range of technologies from power generation, transmission anddistribution to home appliances and office equipment, semiconductors, fibreoptics, batteries, solar energy, nanotechnology and marine energy tomention just a few. Wherever you find electricity and electronics, you findthe IEC supporting safety and performance, the environment, electricalenergy efficiency and renewable energies. The IEC also manages conformityassessment schemes that certify whether equipment, systems or componentsconform to its International Standards.

About the IEA (www.iea.org)

The International Energy Agency (IEA) acts as energy policy advisor to 26Member countries in their effort to ensure reliable, affordable and cleanenergy for their citizens. Founded during the oil crisis of 1973-74, theIEA’s initial role was to co-ordinate measures in times of oil supplyemergencies. As energy markets have changed, so has the IEA. Its mandatehas broadened to incorporate the "Three E’s" of balanced energy policymaking: energy security, economic development and environmental protection.Current work focuses on climate change policies, market reform, energytechnology collaboration and outreach to the rest of the world, especiallymajor producers and consumers of energy like China, India, Russia and theOPEC countries.

IEC

Internet: http://www.presseportal.ch

Contact:

Jonathan Buck

Phone: +41-22-919-02-65

E-Mail: jjb@iec.ch

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