Energy Saving Trust Q&A Centre

redfred1

I have recently started to use 3Watt LED down-lighters in my home. I used to have 10X50Watt Halogen bulbs. This means instead of burning 50watts I only use 3Watts per bulb. This means that every 2 hours instead of using 1KWh I only use 30watts per hour. In winter time the kitchen lights are on for 6 hours a day, so this is 3KWhs a day, X 7 days a week, X 26 weeks a year= 546KWh’s@15p perKWh= £81 for 6 months use. With LED bulbs I now spend only £16, a saving of £64 per 6 months. The GU10LED bulbs cost me £3.50each or £35. 12volt MR16 LED Bulbs are also available. Can you consider investigating more thoroughly the advantages of using LED lights, and include any finding and recommendations on you WEB page advice section

i_h_kerr

Where can I get information on the suitability of an SPV system for a block of flats in London. Would want to take advantage of the Government's feed-in-tariff scheme.

i_h_kerr

Where can I get information on the suitability of an SPV system for a block of flats in London? Would want to take advantage of the feed-in-tariff scheme.

sonnet

Do you know of any solar installers that are offering to fit solar panels for free as long as you forfeit the profit from the surplus energy going back to the grid, you gain by getting free electric that the panel produces.
I have heard rumors of solar companies running such a venture but have yet to find one that delivers.
Can you help.

zeupater

sonnet wrote: »

Do you know of any solar installers that are offering to fit solar panels for free as long as you forfeit the profit from the surplus energy going back to the grid, you gain by getting free electric that the panel produces.
I have heard rumors of solar companies running such a venture but have yet to find one that delivers.
Can you help.

Hi

I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for a reply from the EST .... looks like their answers on this thread have become as rare as their replies to questions submitted through their website ....

There are a couple of long threads discussing this in detail .....

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2637431
&
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2072787

..... Make yourself a strong coffee and sit down for a long night of reading, but do read the entire thread in both cases ....

HTH
Z

Hylton

A huge amount of energy is wasted in homes that do not have properly insulated chimneys. There are a number of ways in which a chimney can be insulated preventing cold air entering through the chimney and warm air escaping.

Chimney liners and chimney balloons are 2 good approaches with chimney balloons being the least expensive option.
A more permanent solution would be to remove the chimney breast entirely along with the fireplace and block up the chimney stack.
Of course this would only be an option where a fireplace is no longer in use and the owner is happy to have it removed.

Not only will removing the chimney breast and blocking up the chimney stack help insulate the home, it will also make use of the otherwise wasted space in rooms where chimney breasts are located.

Green_Jim

I'm reading a lot about the advantages of smart meters at present, but they only ever seem to be for electrics. Can you get smart meters for gas supply, preferably non-intrusive ones that can be installed without recourse to a gas-safe plumber.

Very interested to know

thanks

zeupater

Hi All

Pretty typical in public sector circles ..... someone comes up with an idea, they run with it for a day or two, they then believe they've done enough to justify their salary for a year, so they put their feet up until someone comes along to kick their posterior.

Seriously, I know that the EST have had their funding cut substantially (50% ??), but this is not good enough ..... the thread started by saying that the EST were unlikely to be available 24/7, but I would have thought that that would normally mean 24Hrs-a-day for 7Days-a-week, not 24 minutes in 7 months ......

I would hope that government efficiency measures in this area would have considered value for money, I can see the money, but as for value ???? .... remember we're the idiots paying for this remarkable level of service .... perhaps Chris Huhne would be better off having DECC cut the EST funding by the other 50%.

Message for Energy Saving Trust company representative .... roll trouser legs up, grab top of socks tightly, pull hard.

Z

Energy_Saving_Trust_company_representative

Dear zeupater,

Understandably you have pointed out that response from the Energy Saving Trust (us) in this thread has ceased over the last few months. Firstly I would like to sincerely apologise for our lack of communication recently. As you probably know we have undergone a dramatic organisation change and our resource level has been cut. We have therefore had to temporarily suspend this thread for the time being.

We do not want to put an end to what is a useful platform for answering your questions, and we will be looking to resume the way we were working with this thread once again.

In the meantime if you have any urgent questions, please don’t hesitate to call one of our very friendly advice centres on: 0800 512 012

zeupater

Energy_Saving_Trust_company_representative wrote: »

Dear zeupater,

Understandably you have pointed out that response from the Energy Saving Trust (us) in this thread has ceased over the last few months. Firstly I would like to sincerely apologise for our lack of communication recently. As you probably know we have undergone a dramatic organisation change and our resource level has been cut. We have therefore had to temporarily suspend this thread for the time being.

We do not want to put an end to what is a useful platform for answering your questions, and we will be looking to resume the way we were working with this thread once again.

In the meantime if you have any urgent questions, please don’t hesitate to call one of our very friendly advice centres on: 0800 512 012

Hi

Thank you for you prompt [STRIKE]excuse[/STRIKE] response. Having held a private sector senior management position and full departmental responsibility for many years I would consider that particular response as being unacceptable. I have been through many reorganisations but have always been required to provide a level of service to my customer base whatever the level of disruption may have been caused, it's just a matter of managing the change.

Would it actually be impossible to ask/task the staff at your 'very friendly advice centres' to monitor the relevant threads whilst the telephone isn't actually ringing in order to ensure that input on the forum continues ... and would it also be impossible for a senior manager in the organisation to take a little time to review/audit that required feedback is both timely & appropriate, with a view to lighting a few rockets when performance is seen to be lagging behind expectations .... ?

My own experience with the EST before the reorganisation wasn't actually one which would lead me to believe that anything will have changed by slashing the budget as it couldn't possibly get worse ... from a number of queries submitted through the website I've never had any response, and from a simple telephone query I was referred to the BRE, who weren't interested at all, probably because not being a business there wouldn't be a source of revenue. Whilst talking to the BRE they actually queried why the EST would have recommended I contact them anyway .... 'perhaps it was time for a coffee break or the query was beyond their understanding' was effectively what I was told ! .... hearing that level of respect doesn't really build much confidence, does it .... :wall:

Z