Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Best Available Techniques shopping experience:

1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Best Available Techniques offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Best Available Techniques at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.

2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about

3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Best Available Techniques? Wrong! If the Best Available Techniques is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.

4. Questions - Got a question about Best Available Techniques then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....

5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Best Available Techniques? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Best Available Techniques and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.

6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Best Available Techniques wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.

7. Feedback - happy with your Best Available Techniques then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.

8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Best Available Techniques site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site

9. Contact - got a question about Best Available Techniques, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.

10. Payment - ready to pay for your Best Available Techniques, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.

Best Available Technology (or just BAT) is a term applied with regulations on limiting pollutant discharges with regard to the abatement strategy. Similar terms are best available techniques , best practicable means or best practicable environmental option. The term constitutes a moving targets on practices, since developing societal values and advancing techniques may change what is currently regarded as "reasonably achievable", "best practicable" and "best available".

A literal understanding will connect it with a "spare no expense" doctrine which prescribes the acquisition of the best state of the art technology available, without regard for traditional cost-benefit analysis. In practical use the cost aspect is also taken into account.

Best practicable means was used for the first time in UK primary legislation in section 5 of Alkali Act Amendment Act 1874.

The BAT concept was first time used in the 1992 OSPAR Convention for protection of marine environment of North-East Atlantic for all types of industrial installations.

Some doctrine deem it already acquired the status of customary law.

European Union directives Best available techniques not entailing excessive costs (BATNEEC), sometimes referred to as best available technology, was introduced with the 1984 Air Framework Directive (AFD) and applies to air pollution emissions from large industrial installations.

In 1996 the AFD was superseded by the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC), 96/61/EC, which applies the framework concept of Best Available Techniques (BAT) to the integrated control of pollution to the three media air, water and soil.

In the European Union directive 96/61/EC emission limit values were to be based on the best available techniques, as described in item #17: "Whereas emission limit values, parameters or equivalent technical measures should be based on the best available techniques, without prescribing the use of one specific technique or technology and taking into consideration the technical characteristics of the installation concerned, its geographical location and local environmental conditions; whereas in all cases the authorization conditions will lay down provisions on minimizing long-distance or transfrontier pollution and ensure a high level of protection for the environment as a whole. Council of the European Union, council directive 96/61/EC, eippcb.jrc.es. Accessed 2007-07-05.

The directive includes a definition of best available techniques in article 2.11: Council of the European Union, council directive 96/61/EC, eippcb.jrc.es. Accessed 2007-07-05."best available techniques" shall mean the most effective and advanced stage in the development of activities and their methods of operation which indicate the practical suitability of particular techniques for providing in principle the basis for emission limit values designed to prevent and, where that is not practicable, generally to reduce emissions and the impact on the environment as a whole: - "techniques" shall include both the technology used and the way in which the installation is designed, built, maintained, operated and decommissioned, - "available" techniques shall mean those developed on a scale which allows implementation in the relevant industrial sector, under economically and technically viable conditions, taking into consideration the costs and advantages, whether or not the techniques are used or produced inside the Member State in question, as long as they are reasonably accessible to the operator, - "best" shall mean most effective in achieving a high general level of protection of the environment as a whole.

References Best Available Technology (or just BAT) is a term applied with regulations on limiting pollutant discharges with regard to the abatement strategy. Similar terms are best available techniques , best practicable means or best practicable environmental option. The term constitutes a moving targets on practices, since developing societal values and advancing techniques may change what is currently regarded as "reasonably achievable", "best practicable" and "best available".

A literal understanding will connect it with a "spare no expense" doctrine which prescribes the acquisition of the best state of the art technology available, without regard for traditional cost-benefit analysis. In practical use the cost aspect is also taken into account.

Best practicable means was used for the first time in UK primary legislation in section 5 of Alkali Act Amendment Act 1874.

The BAT concept was first time used in the 1992 OSPAR Convention for protection of marine environment of North-East Atlantic for all types of industrial installations.

Some doctrine deem it already acquired the status of customary law.

European Union directives Best available techniques not entailing excessive costs (BATNEEC), sometimes referred to as best available technology, was introduced with the 1984 Air Framework Directive (AFD) and applies to air pollution emissions from large industrial installations.

In 1996 the AFD was superseded by the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC), 96/61/EC, which applies the framework concept of Best Available Techniques (BAT) to the integrated control of pollution to the three media air, water and soil.

In the European Union directive 96/61/EC emission limit values were to be based on the best available techniques, as described in item #17: "Whereas emission limit values, parameters or equivalent technical measures should be based on the best available techniques, without prescribing the use of one specific technique or technology and taking into consideration the technical characteristics of the installation concerned, its geographical location and local environmental conditions; whereas in all cases the authorization conditions will lay down provisions on minimizing long-distance or transfrontier pollution and ensure a high level of protection for the environment as a whole. Council of the European Union, council directive 96/61/EC, eippcb.jrc.es. Accessed 2007-07-05.

The directive includes a definition of best available techniques in article 2.11: Council of the European Union, council directive 96/61/EC, eippcb.jrc.es. Accessed 2007-07-05."best available techniques" shall mean the most effective and advanced stage in the development of activities and their methods of operation which indicate the practical suitability of particular techniques for providing in principle the basis for emission limit values designed to prevent and, where that is not practicable, generally to reduce emissions and the impact on the environment as a whole: - "techniques" shall include both the technology used and the way in which the installation is designed, built, maintained, operated and decommissioned, - "available" techniques shall mean those developed on a scale which allows implementation in the relevant industrial sector, under economically and technically viable conditions, taking into consideration the costs and advantages, whether or not the techniques are used or produced inside the Member State in question, as long as they are reasonably accessible to the operator, - "best" shall mean most effective in achieving a high general level of protection of the environment as a whole.

References