Great "Alternative Sources of Energy" Hunt

harryhound

Good point.

There are still lots of people that think the heat is coming from the same source that powers volcanoes.

It isn't; 99% of the heat, 1 - 2 meters under the lawn, is from a mix of last summer's hot sun and this winter's weak sun.

By the time we get to a cold snap in February the air temperature will show the air has run out of above freezing heat and the "frost" will be penetrating into the ground.

As the input temperature to the heat pump falls the controls for the building will be demanding higher temperatures in the output. Eventually the heat pump will become an inefficient ice making machine, trying to freeze the garden or clogging up its air intake with frozen condensation. The building's controls will then turn on expensive full price electricity to make up the difference.

There are some rules of thumb that apply to ground source heat pumps:
Dense ground and rock conducts heat better.
The wetter the better as water can move heat through the soil and itself holds a lot of heat per kilo.
Heat can be extracted from ice but freezing the soil can cause "heave" to the surface above it (patio?),
The more thermal capacity the building has, the better it can iron out fluctuations in the external temperature.
300 GBP spent on extra insulation/draught stopping is a better bet than 3,000GBP spent on a bigger heat pump.

HOWEVER this technology is "clever" and that is the way it will develop.
Rules of thumb, that we were able to use for on demand gas heating from the 1960's are not good enough for our "low carbon" future.
Already the pumps monitor the outside temperature and can learn that it makes sense to boost the heating BEFORE anything in the building notices that the temperature is falling indoors.

Personally I see in the future, more computer technology being applied to heating to use the lowest cost electricity and anticipate the weather.

If the salesman starts burbling about " heuristics " this intelligence is what he is trying to discuss.
[Of or relating to exploratory problem-solving techniques that utilize self-educating techniques (as the evaluation of feedback) to improve performance. (From Merriam-Webster Online.)].

So installing a successful heat pump system, especially in an existing building, depends on a careful experienced designer, not a commission chasing salesman.

If anyone has experience of such a person operating in the Essex area, let me know.:D

Harry.

PS Is it wise to rely on an all electric home with no back-up?

natasha-lucy

Ken68 wrote: »

One way of reducing heating costs without spending loadsa capital, is electric blanket "throws". Probably not for families, but a suitably covered blanket with proper cut outs are well up there for low cost. And good payback time.
Ideal for evening use.

hi ken

i'm currently looking for a heated throw but they're a bit out of my price range. are you suggesting above that you get an ordinary (cheaper) underblanket and put a cover on it? would that work?

nat

Ken68

Yes Natasha, has to be kept unrucked, I drape mine over the back of an armchair when not being used. Must be checked regularly for safety, as would be anyway. Fire Brigade do it for nowt.
Tesco do (did) one for about £12 something, what I would call a small double.
Ideal for autumn and spring and for supplementing winter central heating.
Pennies to run. 80w which is, like, 12 hours for 12pence.

lexa34

Have been looking at fuel cells to power live aboard barge- anyone had any experience!!?!

Talent

We installed a multifuel burner with integral boiler a few of years ago. We burn mostly wood from scrap pallets. I get my exercise cycling around a couple of trading estates looking for broken pallets. I always ask. Then go back with car and trailer. Pallet firms only want euro size pallets as a rule so any non standard ones are usually there for the asking. I've plumbed another pump into the system to supply downstairs radiators and there is another indirect cylinder in the loft, this feeds the bath and a shower. Regular heating is gas boiler and also an electric shower.

timmmers

natasha-lucy wrote: »

hi ken

i'm currently looking for a heated throw but they're a bit out of my price range. are you suggesting above that you get an ordinary (cheaper) underblanket and put a cover on it? would that work?

nat

Lidl sel them sometimes for about a tenner ...they had them last week.

t

Mankysteve

thescouselander wrote: »

I couldn't disagree more. our house is fairly new and very well insulated - now we need air conditioning as there is no other way to cool the house. Opening the windows has no effect.

Get some extroior blinds for your windows in your heavy insulated it should be the only way in for the heat.