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Viability of hydroelectricity
We have a pond (about a quarter of an acre in size) that gets fed from numerous small streams and subterraneous sources, and the water feed is decent from autumn to spring especially when we get lots of rain. At the bottom of the pond, there is an overflow that has been concreted and this allow excess water to spill over…
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Replacement inverter needed - is this a good quote?
In 2011 I had a 9.4kW ground-mounted system installed consisting of 38 panels with two inverters each of which takes power from 19 panels in two strings. Recently I noticed that the output from one of the inverters was roughly half of the other one, and a local installer (not the original one who has gone out of business)…
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Electricity Standing Charges
This is possibly a bit tangential to most discussions on solar PVs but since i got my solar OVs plus battery at the beginning of March my electricity standing charge has been greater than the cost of my electricity. I'm with Bulb and my standing charge is 20.44p per day whilst my electricity costs 13.5p per kWh (24 hrs)…
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Solar edge portal inconsistent reading
Solar edge website is showing my Aug generation as 486kwh in the top graph...and 517kwh on the year by month lower graph. How can I find out which is correct and has anyone else had this before?
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E.ON Smart Meter Query
So I've now got my battery (I'll write about my experiences sometime soon) and was looking for a new tariff for my new levels of expected Electricity useage. I've found the tariff of my dreams as it has a low daily charge but only after signing up have found that I have to agree to a Smart Meter if they can fit one. Now…
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Reusable coffee mugs
Hi all I currently buy one or two coffees a day in paper cups from Costa /McDonald's/ bakery I'd like to do the right thing and cut waste. I don't need a flask to keep it hot for long. I have hot water at work and go straight out in a van and put the drink in a cup holder which usually lasts me for 1/2 hours. So here for…
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Faulty Inverter or Panels?
I'm hoping somebody out there could give me some advice on an annoying problem that I am having with my Solar PV system The installation is a 4KW PV solar installed on a bungalow at the end of 2011. The installers have since gone into liquidation. The system consists of two strings of 10 panels each on a south facing 30…
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Free way to recycle the 'unrecyclable'
Most of us have mastered the art of sorting and recycling our household waste. But what about those annoying items that can't be collected and recycled by your local council? From crisp packets to contact lenses, there are (literally) tons of items we still throw in the rubbish bin. Read the full blog: Free way to recycle…
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Perhaps worthy of support?
http://!!!!!!.uk/campaigns/divest/ Hi, came across this "new" campaign which pressed some buttons for me. I had wondered about posting it in other places here on MSE but decided to at least make this area the first stop. Cheers :A
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What do you look for in an air source heat pump?
For those of you that have purchased or are thinking about buying an air source heat pump, what are the main features that you are looking for?
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When will fossil fuel useage peak a general discussion
2018: +2% increase in global CO2 emmissions People talk as if solar & wind are taking over while the truth is that fossil fuel useage has been growing more or less continuously since 1900 including the recent past So when will global fossil fuel useage peak and also which year will global FF useage fall to below 2000…
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3 years ago I installed Solar Panels after lots of support from this forum
Background 6.72kw system fitted producing approx 7.5mw per year. Really pleased absolutely no issues whatsoever. For months I considered a battery to soak up excess production but I believe economics still way off. Next chapter in my journey is that I have just bought an electric BMW I3s and I estimate a significant saving…
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Can Cadbury Drinking Chocolate tins be recycled?
This might seem a silly question but can they? They have the recycling sign on them but are they more cardboard or more metal..?! Seems a shame to throw them in the general waste bin!
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How to have an ethical and eco-friendly wedding
Hi Forumites, You may have seen in last week’s national news headlines a story about a couple who served their entire wedding party (280 people!) their wedding breakfast with help from a charity that redistributes food otherwise destined to be thrown away. All perfectly good stuff! Read more from the charity here: 280…
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Economics of replacing storage heaters with ASHP?
Hi all, does anyone have any experience (or just thoughts) on replacing storage heaters (on economy 7) with ASHP? I'm trying to put together a case for my sister to change her ancient storage heaters which are rather expensive to run and suffer the old problem of having almost run out of heat by the evening when you want…
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Panel temperature
I’d often wondered what sort of temperature my panels reached on a hot day. I’ve just taken a reading while I was cleaning the gutters out....drumroll......83C.
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Solar assisted heat pumps - night time solar
I have a keen interest in all the new renewable systems that are coming into play at the moment and am totally fascinated by solar assisted heat pumps. They now seem to be replacing traditional solar thermal. The thing i just can't believe is that these systems actually generate hot water at night or in bad weather or…
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Step change from consumer to producer - one step at a time
Sometime over the past week I have read on the internet about the step change from consumer to producer. This has made me consider small changes that I can make to be greener. I drink herbal tea I thought about the difference been the mint tea bag I buy and the mint in my garden that i make an infusion of. Both healthy ,…
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Hydro power from a stream
Hi, We have recently bought a property in France and it has a reliable stream running around it. Its an old watermill. There is a large duck pond that holds a considerable amount of water. This then flows over a holding 'gate' / 'board'. I was looking to do a simple hydro energy scheme to heat the hot water via the…
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Using refillable hand wash bottles and where to source refills
I am the treasurer for our local guide hall, and until a couple of years back also was responsible for the running of the building, buying supplies etc. Recently, the person who now does this suggested that we should switch to using refillable pump bottles for the hand wash, on the basis that it would be more eco friendly…
