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Green & ethical MoneySaving

Archives for March 2018

Smart meters
BG are doing the rounds of wanting to install smart meters. How do they perform with solar panels? I know at some point I!!!8217;m going to have to have one. I just keep putting it off. On a side note do you need to have the display box thingi or can that get put in a drawer. Last time we had a usesge display if caused…
Dead PV Panel
So I've been relatively quiet on these boards recently. This is partly because of being very busy at work and partly because I've had a bit of a downer on my system - clearly the weather hasn't helped but there's more...... Over Christmas I noticed a panel underperforming. It was maxing out at 36w output! I contacted the…
GOVT bottle & can deposit return scheme proposed
Is todays proposal great news for the planet, or just foolish misguided thinking? What do you think? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-43563164
G59 application
Hi there I'm toying with additional panels on my garage /shed roof about 2.5kWp worth plus a second inverter will be a DIY installation with no intention of claiming fit Already have 4.5 on the roof now so this will definitely put me into g59 territory. Few questions The inverter I'm looking coming out in may is g83…
Solar Panel Advice
Hi all, apologies for what is bound to be another "solar panel advice" topic. Just looking for a bit of advice, and guidance and hope some of the more knowledgeable and in-the-know posters here will be able to provide some words of wisdom. I literally am clueless when it comes to solar panels. So my wife and I have…
Solar water heating and compatible thermostats
Im buying a house which has solar water heating. Whats the best remote app based thermostat that can control the house heating and hot water with this system? I currently have Hive and a combi boiler!
Solar Panel Safety Check
Hi there, I have just had a phone call from a company called Ecoames regarding our solar panels which were fitted in 2014. They said that a new law is coming in on 28th April to say that all owners of solar panels on semi detached or terrace properties will have to have an automatic shutdown device fitted in case they…
New build air source heat pump advise please
Can anyone advise how good or bad these are? I am considering purchasing a new build and the options are LPG or ASHP. Builder was unable or unwilling to put in Nat Gas I believe due to very high cost of a new line. AFAIK you don't get renewable heat incentives on new builds so that's out. Are these low maintenance and long…
used Wooden Pallets
Hi all.. We are a very elderly retired couple who have just taken over an allotment..There is a very delapitated shed on site and because of costs to repair normally , we are looking to use a few wooden pallets to improve it. We live Truro Cornwall and would appreciate any help/guidance to where these might be locally…
10kWh storage £3.5k
Been playing with building a solar store from recycled laptop batteries it's sat at 2.5 kWh but slow going May have found a short cut 10kWh of batteries from a crashed EV Worked out can get the batteries which have already been reconfigured for powerwall use. A charger/inverter which will ac charge leaving current grid tie…
FiT / generation: how to see rpi increased rates?
Hi folks, I installed my solar panels and registered for FiT payments in December, before rates slightly dropped in Jan. If I'm not mistaken, the FiT rates go up each year - around now? Where can I see what the updated rates are? Thanks!
EPC and RHI
Am I right in that you only need to have a recent EPC to get RHI now? For some reason I thought you needed to be a D before you could claim (FIT or RHI) which for my old house is impossible WITHOUT fitting renewables, and I'd started to think we couldn't do it. But now going through the RHI calculator and putting in the…
Solar panel installer gone bust
We’ve had our panels 3 years now, no problems all working ok, the company that fitted them are no longer in business. Is there anything I should be doing ? The system is a enphase which I have the app and still get monthly emails giving me my reading.
Electric Vehicle
I have bought a new Nissan Leaf 2.ZERO and got it on Friday. I have only driven it from the seller to home so do not have any real news yet. That said, it drives a lot better than the old version and there are a LOT of buttons. It looks as though a number of the panels are the same, such as doors, front pillars and roof.…
Indesit dishwasher
Hi Peeps Just replaced my indesit dishwasher, with virtually the same one, now I always used the ECO wash on my other one, it used 0.94 kw per wash, on the new machine the same was uses 10.26 KW on the eco and 10.95 on the ordinary wash, this makes absolutely no sense to me, does anyone know why this would be? thanks sam
Faulty generation meter?
After eight years of running well, for the first time this quarter the inverter and the generation meter are showing drastically different readings. The inverter shows a generation this quarter of 115kWh, but the generation meter shows only 11kWh (eleven) over the same period. The 115kWh for this last quarter is consistent…
New user of PV and FITs - help
Hope you can help me get up to speed quickly, my only experience of PV panels is on my sailing boat. I'm helping my mum out with her household affairs since her husband passed away. There's a PV array on the roof, installed 2014 and paid for £6300 in full, I believe. They've been receiving a FIT from EDF, and I understand…
Solar PV and smart meter issue
I had some solar panels installed at the beginning of the week and today was the first day they hadn’t been covered in snow. During the day I was getting close to 1kw, viewable from the monitoring solution that comes with it (they are SolarEdge panels). The question is, I also have a smart meter with an indoor display and…
Affordable Housing Solar PV
Hi Everyone, I moved into a new build, affordable housing, housing association property in October 2017 with the understanding that the property had an EPC B rating due to insulation, double glazing and solar pv panels. In fact the energy certificate shows that the cost of heating, lighting and hot water at the property…

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MSE News

Ofgem proposes new 'no standing charge' Price Cap – but Martin Lewis warns vulnerable customers need to be opted in or it won't work
Ofgem has today launched detailed proposals for a major shake up to its Energy Price Cap that dictates the price over 80% of homes in England, Scotland and Wales pay for their energy bills.
Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland to cut overdraft rates for millions but hike them for others – here's what's happening and full help
If you're a Lloyds, Halifax or Bank of Scotland current account holder, the interest rate you're charged for using your overdraft could change soon as part of a fees shake-up. The Lloyds Banking Group, which owns all three brands, says millions of its customers will pay less after the changes – but a "few" will pay more.
Warm Home Discount expansion confirmed with millions more eligible for the £150 top-up this winter – here's what we know
Around 2.7 million more low-income households, including 900,000 families with children, will become eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, as the Government has confirmed it will remove the existing 'hard to heat' eligibility criteria. The extension has only been confirmed for winter 2025/26, with further changes possible for future years.
Martin Lewis: At last a chance to fix Council Tax flaws impacting millions – debt collection, difficulty challenging your band, discounts and more
Major flaws in the Council Tax system in England could finally be fixed in future, as the Government has launched a wide-ranging consultation to review hideous debt collection practices, the difficulty of challenging your band, the overly complex and horribly-named Severe Mental Impairment discount and more. MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis, who has long campaigned on these issues, shares his response and analysis.
Energy complaints to be dealt with more quickly and Energy Ombudsman to get new powers under Government plans
If you have a complaint about your energy firm, it may be resolved more quickly in future, as the Government has announced a raft of proposals to strengthen consumer protections in the energy market. The planned changes include giving the Energy Ombudsman new powers to force firms to comply with its decisions – but it's still very early days. Here's what we know so far.
Warm Home Discount expansion confirmed with millions more eligible for the £150 top-up this winter – here's what we know
Around 2.7 million more households, including 900,000 families with children, will become eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, as the Government has confirmed it will remove the existing 'hard to heat' eligibility criteria. The extension has only been confirmed for winter 2025/26, with further changes possible for future years.
Base rate held at 4.25% – here's what it means and when it might be cut next
The Bank of England has held the base rate at 4.25%. Below we explain why, when it might be cut, plus what it means for your mortgage and savings.
Applied for South West Trains 'boundary fares' compensation? Act now to claim it
If you applied for compensation from South West Trains before the deadline in January 2025, you now need to provide your bank details to the claim administrator so it can be paid to you. Here's what you need to know.
Winter Fuel Payments to be reinstated for millions – Martin Lewis explains how it'll work, what it means and if it's an improvement
All State Pensioners in England and Wales will receive a Winter Fuel Payment this winter, though those who earn over £35,000 will see it clawed back through the tax system. It means nine million pensioners will get the £200 or £300 top-up. Here MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis shares his instant response and analysis, and we include answers to your key questions.

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