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PV panels as part of buildings insurance
This post, from another sub-forum, was last updated about 4 months ago. I was wondering if anyone could add to this list or maybe elaborate on just what might be covered e.g. I note it states 'fully covered' for Direct Line SELECT, but does this mean malicious damage is covered or just that solar would be included in the…
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What natural insulation do you prefer?
In my home, I have installed a combination of sheep wool, wood fibre boards, wood wool board, hemp lime and hemp batts to help provide breathable insulation. After installing a loft full of rockwool several years ago in a previous property, I have to say that I absolutely loved installing rolls of sheep wool in our new…
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FIT Payment Increase 1st April
Last year EON asked me to take a meter reading on the 31st March and submit it with my quarterly reading on the 18th April. This was obviously to reflect the RPI change on payments. However, this year I haven't had the same request and as far as I can ascertain, there is a slight increase from April 1st 2013. Can anybody…
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Solar IMPORT EXPORT- confused !
Bit confused. Connected British Gas monitor last night which showed average of 300w of grid energy being used last night Have a 4kw Solar system with a Geo Monitor. This morning (sunny) it was showing 1kw of energy being produced. However, British Gas monitor still showed 300w of energy. This went up when microwave was on…
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Is solar PV worth it?
Hi. I'm a long time lurker. Time to dive in. Having trawled the forum and done some other research I'm not sure of the cost benefit of a PV system. Perhaps someone could comment on my thoughts. The energy Saving trust calculator estimates the total instal cost for a 4kWp system as £7080, and the total earnings ofer the…
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Project Solar - 12 month guarantee 'challenges' - Advice needed
Hi all, I have just passed my first twelve months of owning and running a Solar PV system and have enjoyed a decent yield. However The reason I went with the Burton on trent based company Project Solar was their very attractive terms, not least being the first year's yield guaranteed or they pay the difference. So My yield…
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Camouflage Paint Wind Turbines
Why do they insist on painting wind turbines white ??? If they painted them in camouflage colours to match their environment they would not be so glaringly obvious.
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Unexpected things that can be composted
I've discovered that most washing up gloves are made from latex and can be composted (a few are plastic however), and that many vacuum cleaner bags (the paper ones with a latex dust seal at the opening) can also be composted when full of dust and hair. So, I'm wondering if anyone here knows of any other unexpected things…
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Advice on solar pv micro inverter
We have an existing system, run on a sunnyboy inverter, and in addition we also have two new panels that we need to install an inverter for. We had assumed that the cheapest option would be to get a micro inverter for the two new panels, but the electrician we spoke to suggested that it would be a better long term…
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Large system and FIT payments.
Hi Everyone, This is my first post here and you're going to love it. ( Maybe ) I live on a farm with my Brother and Mother and we had some solar panels fitted 2 years ago. There were 2 systems, both equal 3.6Kw and everything works well. One system was plugged in to the farm house and the other system was plugged into the…
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Oil Boiler or Solar PV
Hi all, I'm new to this forum so please be gentle! We have recently finished an extension to a bungalow we bought 3 years ago are now considering the next step - new boiler or solar PV. As part of the refurb we had a multifuel burner with back boiler, linked to a 300lt themal store, this is providing most of our heating…
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One year anniversary of our panels just passed and I'm........
:jdelighted with them. One of the soundest/wisest moves we have made. Second cheque in from EON today and on my estimate they will pay for themselves in 6 years on the basis of what we have received in the year for the FIT tariff. Bizarrely what is most pleasing is days like today up here in cold but sunny Glasgow the joy…
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Who's to blame
This is so right! Checking out at the store, the young cashier suggested to the older woman that she should bring her own shopping bags because plastic bags weren't good for the environment. The woman apologized and explained, "We didn't have this green thing back in my earlier days." The cashier responded, "That's our…
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Advice please - clearing out the house!
Hi everyone, I'm in the process of a serious de-clutter and was after some advice on the most ethical / worthy / profitable (where relevant) ways of getting rid of the following without it going to landfill.... BOOKS VHS TAPES ELECTRONICS (more specifically: cables, wires and chargers from old mobile phones and PCs; old…
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Organic Mattress Advice Please
I need a new mattress and would like a 100% organic, metal free one. I have come across : Abaca Ramsey Yanis Natural Mat Mohair Could anyone advise which is the best. Abaca and Yanis have 15 yr warranty, Natural Mat 5.
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Fresh pylon designs.
While browsing the national grid website (as you do), I came across this: A writeup of which is at http://www.nationalgridt-talk.com/?p=318 And yes, they're considering to paint it, or to leave it 'natural'. As to scale - it's somewhat shorter than the equivalent pylon it replaces, and can carry more power.
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Energy import benefits of UK Solar PV
Now that we have to import increasing amounts of gas due to North Sea gas decline and the closure of coal fired plant, what are the benefits of PV due to reduced gas imports? I think its highly likely that in the coming years we will see huge price increases in gas. If solar PV is reducing the amount of gas burnt at the…
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Check your meter!
Hi all - this is just for info.... We have had solar panels on our roof installed by A Shade Greener for just over 12 months. We have changed our electricity usage habits and have tried to use appliances etc as the electricity is generated. Last week I felt I had to contact ASG as I had received yet another bill from…
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First4solar ( Solar Europa Ltd) - anyone used them?
Sorry for another 'anyone used this mob' post... Can't find much about 'first4solar' on the net. They have the usual flashy website with the usual fab returns. They have quoted me a 16 panel system (3.6Kw) for just under 5k which seems a great price. I suspect they may use cheaper panels and inverters (need to ask them…
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Green Technologies
Is anyone else feeling disillusioned about the various green technologies that are available? I've looked at rainwater harvesting, solar heating, solar PIR, ground and air sourced heat pumps, heat banks/thermal stores, etc. and none of them seem to work very well. None of them really have a decent payback period, with some…
