Fracking, nuclear reactors, coal and wind farms

[david63]

One thing that we did a few years ago that saved quite a lot of money, and energy, was to get an energy meter. When you see the meter shoot up when you switch things on you do start to think - it even persuaded Mrs63 to only put enough water in the kettle for one cup of coffee and not enough for the whole street

[ChesterfieldJohn]

I dont know if people are interested, but I believe that if you are 65 or over and have a south facing roof that you can get solar panels fitted free.

John

[david63]

I dont know if people are interested, but I believe that if you are 65 or over and have a south facing roof that you can get solar panels fitted free.

John

I know that these schemes change every other day but I thought that anyone could have then fitted for free but then got less back from the Government with the supplier taking a share

[ChesterfieldJohn]

I dont know if people are interested, but I believe that if you are 65 or over and have a south facing roof that you can get solar panels fitted free.

John

I know that these schemes change every other day but I thought that anyone could have then fitted for free but then got less back from the Government with the supplier taking a share

David,
I believe that this is a government scheme.
My neighbour works for a national charity and they have been told about it.

She looked at our house, but we dont have a south facing roof

John

[Kendhni]

2). Whilst energy conservation and efficiency technology has probably reached it apogee in terms of what is now possible (however, never say never) clearly there is plenty of scope to roll-out efficiency in both business, public sector and our homes where not already fully exploited.

We are not even close to that point yet ... if everybody really tried and we changed how we go about certain day-to-day operations then, by some estimates, we could reduce energy consumption by up to 50%.

I'd love to know what Ken, in an existing house like ours, rather than a new purpose built energy efficient home. Especially what can be done at a cost which can be recouped in a reasonable amount of time.

As I said in my original post we've done everything we know of but at a cost which will take many years to recoup, even if bills stopped rising. Short of going to bed under a pile of blankets when the sun goes down I'm out of ideas.

I have no idea what you have done so a lot of the stuff below you may already have done. All the usual stuff applies ... turn off everything that is not in use .. do not leave stuff on standby (unless it has a zero usage - including do not leave stuff on charge (once charged turn it off)). Replace bulbs with low energy .. turn the boiler down a bit (most people run their houses far too warm). Manage how you cook food .. do not overfill kettles & pots .. do not fill baths (use showers) etc. etc. Always watch anything with a heating element in it (they chew electricity) inc. dish washers, washing machines, tumble dryers etc. Keep doors closed (especially in unused rooms). When something needs replace, look for low energy devices. Maintain fridges/freezers at optimum fill levels (do not run empty or over full)

Heat wise there are 3 main rules .. insulate, insulate and insulate ... loft insulation, and wall insulation are not expensive and have a reasonable recovery time (there may even be grants available). If you have draughty windows then there are cheap secondary frames you can fit to help (or I have even seen some people using cling film) ... if not then at least have heavy duty curtains and/or thermal linings (don't let them hang over radiators though).

To give you an idea, I am a gadget freak, live in a house that is about 2200 sqft (modern build) and my monthly electricity bill averages out at about (£40 - and I know I could make some small savings on that) - I should add that we use oil fired central heating and electricity for cooking (no gas). My brother lives in a similar house and his electricity bill is usually about £100-140 per month (oil fired heating, but gas cooking) ... however there is a running joke that he must have a bulb blown if any room is in darkness.

I also encourage Julie to visit neighbours during cold winter days and use their oil

Something I have heard a lot of people say that has helped is getting an electricity monitor in ... in fact some have made comments that they become very addictive and have really made a difference (your electricity company may even give you one free)

[Ray Scully]

There is much to commend in Mervyn & Trish's OP.

The UK, the EU and the World all "enjoy" finite resources in terms of "fossil-fuel" (and indeed the fuel required for our present knowledge of nuclear power)

I do not pretend to be an 'expert' as both the "professional" green protesters tend to be (unlike most subjects of employment age these types seem to be able to do "quite well" without having to work for a living), or the "coalition" of NIMBYS one sees in locales who would never normally even give a second thought to the plight of the lower orders, people they don't mix with, and lefties, etc, etc. Stay-at-home yummy-mummy's who are spouses of highly paid and bonused city-types tearing around in massive Range Rovers around our narrow lanes "doing their bit" lie high in the scale of my vomit-meter.

A number of points:

1). Clearly, there appears to be massive potential for energy and national energy security from fracking. I am in favour of informed and careful consideration of the gradual use of this technology to prove both it's worth and its safety and clearly the first options should be to begin this in the most under-populated areas. Should cost-benefit not be sufficient or, MORE IMPORTANTLY, serious safety matters come to the fore, then such developments be reduced and even abandoned. BUT NOT AT THE UNINFORMED AND UNACCOUNTABLE SAY SO of the coalition of rasta-haired layabouts, wealthy yummy mummies, and Lady p*ss-Pot Barrington-Smyth.

2). Whilst energy conservation and efficiency technology has probably reached it apogee in terms of what is now possible (however, never say never) clearly there is plenty of scope to roll-out efficiency in both business, public sector and our homes where not already fully exploited.

3). There still remains tremendous potential with all the forms of renewables to bridge gaps in fossil and nuclear energy and the prospect of other forms of energy either currently conjectured or/and being researched and those that have not even been imagined. Wind (Major [inshore & offshore, although the latter costs twice as much to build and maintain as the former] and Domestic/business), Solar (again major and micro [the latter from domestic to road signs]),Hydro, Kinetic (Is that the right term?) for road embedded generators, heat pumps and heat exchange units for domestic and business

4). Resume and restart and expand modern nuclear power but only to be sited where the likes of a Fukashima could not happen.

5). Massive resources and research into public and private transport that will utilise electricity generated over the years more proportionally from renewable and nuclear generation.

6). More resources and research into minimising energy loss when transmitting energy from generation to final user.

7). And the 'Holy Grail' of Fusion. Will this happen?

[Ray Scully]

2). Whilst energy conservation and efficiency technology has probably reached it apogee in terms of what is now possible (however, never say never) clearly there is plenty of scope to roll-out efficiency in both business, public sector and our homes where not already fully exploited.

We are not even close to that point yet ... if everybody really tried and we changed how we go about certain day-to-day operations then, by some estimates, we could reduce energy consumption by up to 50%.

I'd love to know what Ken, in an existing house like ours, rather than a new purpose built energy efficient home. Especially what can be done at a cost which can be recouped in a reasonable amount of time.

As I said in my original post we've done everything we know of but at a cost which will take many years to recoup, even if bills stopped rising. Short of going to bed under a pile of blankets when the sun goes down I'm out of ideas.

Yours and similar situations call for a subsidy to enable the work to be carried out at a realistic cost.. This I think would be more cost effective than the massive hand outs given to the wind far operators.

Ray

[Mervyn and Trish]

I's not that we're hard up Ray, it's just that I cannot see anything else that can be done to our house that will make any difference, short of rebuilding it. In any case if we don't have fracking, wind power, solar power, nuclear or coal we won't have to save 50% of our use - there'll be no electricity at all. I just think that alongside taking sensible energy saving measures we also need to get a move on and ensure we have energy security so what we do need is not controlled by foreign countries. And my frustration is the protest groups are quick to tell us what not to do but have no ideas what we should do instead.

[The Tinker]

Saw a headline on the daily newspaper today that Somerset (Mendip Hills) will be the next location for fracking.

By the way Mervyn - I hope you have a candlelight evening every week - apparently over time this greatly reduces your electricity consumption

[oldbluefox]

We had a conversation, a while back, about ways in which we could cut our energy bills down. When she asked what our energy consumption was she decided there was nothing she could tell us as it seemed we must be doing it already. We don't do anything earth-shattering. It's just common sense in not wasting energy. We've got the usual lagging in the loft but OH will not entertain cavity wall insulation as she worries about damp. Having lived in an older house where damp was always a problem we now have something a bit more modern and she doesn't want to invite trouble! This is one argument I have lost.

I must say I am not happy that we are so reliant on other countries for our gas supplies. Personally, in this respect I would be much happier to be self sufficient.

[Ray Scully]

We had a conversation, a while back, about ways in which we could cut our energy bills down. When she asked what our energy consumption was she decided there was nothing she could tell us as it seemed we must be doing it already. We don't do anything earth-shattering. It's just common sense in not wasting energy. We've got the usual lagging in the loft but OH will not entertain cavity wall insulation as she worries about damp. Having lived in an older house where damp was always a problem we now have something a bit more modern and she doesn't want to invite trouble! This is one argument I have lost.

I must say I am not happy that we are so reliant on other countries for our gas supplies. Personally, in this respect I would be much happier to be self sufficient.

OBF

Living in the country, and at the mercy for many years of oil prices. Some 30 years ago we installed along with a great percentage of our neighbours, cavity wall insulation. Apart from one instance, when on investigation they found the brickies jacket in the cavity, there have been no problems.
I understand that the new processes are even more foolproof. Are you a man or a obf ? go for it. You will save hundreds of pounds.


Ray

[oldbluefox]

Ray
I know all the arguments and would go for it tomorrow. It's OH I can't convince, and since we are never cold in the winter it makes convincing her even harder. I'll keep working on her though.

[Ray Scully]

Ray
I know all the arguments and would go for it tomorrow. It's OH I can't convince, and since we are never cold in the winter it makes convincing her even harder. I'll keep working on her though.

OBF
Suggest she can spend half the savings at the dress shop.

Rau

[Manoverboard]

... but OH will not entertain cavity wall insulation as she worries about damp.

We had the Thermo-Pearl system ( guaranteed by Shell ) installed in one of our traditionally built homes nearly 30 years ago and it still works a treat to this day but you do need a reliable installer and you will also need to ensure that you do not intend to cut into the brickwork at a later date else you could be knee deep in little white balls. Watch out also for sub floor gaps if you have a cellar or a split level property.

They cut out one row, at one metre intervals, of 22mm plugs of brickwork ( subsequently replaced ) high up in the walls and then blow the ' poly balls ' into the cavity, these are simultaneously coated with a glue and when they settle the surfaces stick together but there are gaps between them to allow any water penetration to pass between them. In some instances or parts of the house a second row may be required.

If there is a problem then they can, could, be treated and as a last resort be sucked out again.

When we had it done it was more cost effective than other systems but it also avoided the issues of formaldehyde which are known to cause problems to asthma sufferers.

[oldbluefox]

Locally they have been blowing a fibrous type material into holes drilled around various intervals in the walls. Unfortunately we have seen various articles on the internet where problems have occurred which necessitated wet, soggy masses to be dragged out of walls. That would indeed be heartbreaking in a property which suffers no damp problems at all. I understand her concerns although I tell myself these may be situations where cavity wall insulation has been applied to properties where it was inappropriate which may have already had a damp problem.

Apologies - getting away from the issue of fracking.