Great "Alternative Sources of Energy" Hunt

ktpie

rfburke wrote: »

I don't have any experience or knowledge but it seems perfectly feasible. The only problem is that you loose the electric element, which is ok but in the event that you are unable to use your boiler (more common than you think most boilers break down in winter) and its a dark day you'll have no hot water.
The sealing around the element aperture would need to be good as well, if the tank is old you could damage the opening and find you are not able to make an adequate seal. Corrosion on the tanks is more common on old ones retrofitted with lagging jackets than ones which are preinsualted.

Thanks for this, some good points, I don't think our tank is that old, another reason we wouldn't be keen on replacing it anytime soon.

centaurandrew

Mcfi5dhc wrote: »

£1650 - this was just before petrol prices went mental, but the prices of conversion are still roughly the same. V6/V8's is a bit more - still under £2000 though I think.

The payback depends on how much petrol you are using - but mine was about 10,000 miles. I have done 20,000 since conversion (every 12,000 miles you need an LPG service, but mine is only £25).

Thanks

I got mine done last year for £1200 at warrington autogas, and wrote a blog about it www . lpgdreams . blogspot . com (this isn't an affiliatised link, just a standard blog). My new calculations show I save about 10p a mile, and so after 12000 miles the conversion has really paid off.

Also, my MOT garage doesnt even bother testing the emissions on my car now, as LPG produces so little it barely even registers. The first time i got it MOT'd carbon monoxide emissions were 0.01%.

con_yac

I converted my Honda Accord estate over 3 years ago and have done about 100,000 miles since the conversion saving me a fortune. The conversion cost was about £1700. Finding lpg filling stations is now a lot easier than it was 3 years ago. I buy a map book which details all the lpg filling stations in the UK from go-autogas.co.uk this also gives you access to their website so you can get the details online as well if you want. I also use petrolprices.com betwen the 2 websites you should find all the lpg stations in an area complete with address, phone number, prices and opening times.

centaurandrew

con_yac wrote: »

I also use petrolprices.com betwen the 2 websites you should find all the lpg stations in an area complete with address, phone number, prices and opening times.

Yeah, also the new tomtom devices will navigate to the lowest LPG prices, and LPG POIs (points of interest) are available from tomtom to download.

LPG rocks doesnt it?! (Once you get the problems ironed out)

andyfras_2

grazer wrote: »

Do you need to speak to your electricity provider to find out about selling back?

Yes, I did a lot of research to see which energy provider did the best buy-back deals and it's not easy to compare as they all calculate it in a different way. In the end I discovered that for us Eon was comparable to the best of the others and, as we were with them already, it was simplest to stay with them.

kebabjones

hi we have purchased a lazy spa as we dont go out so this is our relax time on a evening we have 3 children and both have to work full time so this is our justification for such and extraigance but it costs a bomb to heat works through a filter and heater thingey LOL if anybody has any ideas i would be eevr so grateful. we love this site and have used it to save money - make money etc this is our only little thing lol

redduck369

The best way to save money on energy is to insulate your building within an inch of its life, then the money you spend on heating stays in your house rather than heating the neighbourhood. Very cost affective and you can sometimes get grants from your local council or energy company.

Also the small things like having curtains that stop draughts and closing them.

If you can get hold of one cheaply getting an energy meter and seeing how much different appliances use is quite eye opening(Centre for Alternative Energy sell them and other companies online)

rdsaver

one year ago i installed a new tank with 3 heat exchange coils.
along with 2x20 vacuum tube panels and the neccessary pumps and sensors.
was having the loft converted so seemed like the time to do it.

3 coils ?
1 for the normal boiler circuit.
2 for the solar circuit.
3 Thermal store coil,this is where the cold water goes in...and comes out hot..so hot in fact it comes out through a mixing valve (set to 45deg) that way...the kids dont get scalded and we dont waste all that precious heat adding cold water to baths.
thermal store - the water in the cylinder is heated...but not used.
the heat is transfered to the cold water going through the third coil.
that way, we get mains pressure hotwater, without pumps or a combi boiler ! showers are fun again

Vacuum Tubes, yep work really well even when its -5 outside...if the sun is shining..(and even if its just bright) they generate hot water.

bearing in mind it takes a while to tune the system, get the flow rates right and the thermostat switching temperatures.

but during 3 months over winter, despite having extra radiators (in the new loft) the gas used over the same period the year before was a little bit lower.
3 months of spring time, gas usage 49% of the same period the previous year.
3 months to now (July Bill) 10% of the previous year.

have to say that the 10% is just the gas used for cooking as the boiler has timer has been switched off for central heating and hot water for 3 or 4 months.

You do have to change the way you use the water...
no good expecting a tankfull of hot before dawn in winter.
unless it wass sunny day perviously.

but since april, there is pretty much continuous hot water.
on the odd few days there isnt, or if the kids use it all up.
just press the boost button on the timer, and the boiler kicks off for 20 mins or so which is enough for a couple of showers.
mostly...no problems..long as you understand how it works..


Kits from ebay...
most extra coils for DIY solar go in the top where the existing electric immersion is...you may or may not want to risk having no electric back up
i have an immersion in mine...just in case there is no sun and no boiler.
havnt used it yet.

Insulation is everything !
the other problem with retrofitting to an existing tank..
most older tanks do not have adequate insulating foam.
check yours...if its more then a couple of years old i bet you dont have more than a centimetre.
modern cylinders have 2.5 centimeters as standard...
not much if you are trying to save the heat.
mine has 7.5 Centimetres of foam..and then a standard jacket over the top. plus all the pipes are covered too. so hopefully i dont lose much heat from them.

So if you are going to do it....
dont scrimp on the Cylinder...get a new one..better insulation.

albyota

Has anybody considered replacing their LPG or Oil boiler for an Air Source Heat Pump boiler? they are over 300% efficient and the cost of installing are comparable to replacing boiler and oil tank...and upgrading your controls.... no 'tie ins' or contracts... they run on electricity, all the manufacturers are producing them from Mitsubishi, Daikin, Dimplex, Danfoss, Worcester Bosch, etc..try reseaching renewables ASHP in the midlands, I no longer have oil as I have replaced with the ASHP, I have now saved over £740 since it was fitted October 08, I hope this helps those of you worried about the fuel increases this winter, or the governments proposal to introduce a climate levy tax on fossil fuels starting with oil.....then gas.....

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...en-energy.html

start looking now for alternatives.... you can get grants upto £900 for ASHP's from the Low Carbon Building Programme (LCBP) by using the Micro-generation Certification Scheme (MCS) accredited installers and equipment on the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) from the energy Saving Trust.

avantra

albyota wrote: »

Has anybody considered replacing their LPG or Oil boiler for an Air Source Heat Pump boiler? they are over 300% efficient and the cost of installing are comparable to replacing boiler and oil tank...and upgrading your controls.... no 'tie ins' or contracts... they run on electricity, all the manufacturers are producing them from Mitsubishi, Daikin, Dimplex, Danfoss, Worcester Bosch, etc..try reseaching renewables ASHP in the midlands, I no longer have oil as I have replaced with the ASHP, I have now saved over £740 since it was fitted October 08, I hope this helps those of you worried about the fuel increases this winter, or the governments proposal to introduce a climate levy tax on fossil fuels starting with oil.....then gas.....

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...en-energy.html

start looking now for alternatives.... you can get grants upto £900 for ASHP's from the Low Carbon Building Programme (LCBP) by using the Micro-generation Certification Scheme (MCS) accredited installers and equipment on the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) from the energy Saving Trust.

Hi albyota, I am interested, can I ask how much the kit and fitting cost roughly?