So now I have a solar PV system how do I make the most of it???

Kernel_Sanders

EricMears wrote: »

Sorry Kernel but it's still not a 'loss' it just isn't as big a gain as it might have been.

A fair point in your case, but taken to its extreme, somebody who uses all their generation (possible with a cannabis farm in the attic!) could claim that the payments they would still receive are of no loss to the 'green revolution' which is apparently underway.
However, I thank you for considering inviting me over for tea (nearly) every Sunday

EricMears

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

A fair point in your case, but taken to its extreme, somebody who uses all their generation (possible with a cannabis farm in the attic!) could claim that the payments they would still receive are of no loss to the 'green revolution' which is apparently underway.
However, I thank you for considering inviting me over for tea (nearly) every Sunday

Arguably, a cannabis farm in the attic could indeed be considered 'green', maybe even 'ethical'. Providing the crop was used for pain relief rather than recreation, it could relieve some of the economic problems the NHS are currently experiencing. However, I don't think I'll start doing that just yet (& certainly won't be posting a note here if I do


Such an invitation is particularly easy to make - esp when I don't post my address :rotfl:

Cardew

EricMears wrote: »

** I couldn't lay my hands on a recent water bill to find exact cost so tried to find answer from SevernTrent website.


I think (**) our marginal cost for metered water is around £1.50 pcm which would produce water costs of 6p & 2p respectively.

Let me help.

The cost of metered water for Severn Trent for 2012/13 is 152.2p(£1.522) per cubic metre.

Those who also pay for Used water(drainage) - pay an additional 92.2p per cubic metre.(unless they have made othe arrangements)

Incidentally 97% of properties in UK are connected to mains drainage according to this tome:

http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/statistics/pdf/1750754.pdf

So taking the figures of S-D-J's newish machines, for the majority of people in the Severn Trent area the cost of water per cycle would be 10p and 4p for washing machine/dishwasher respectively.

Notwithstanding that my views on the PV FIT system have seemingly incurred the 'wrath' of yourself and the thread 'President', it surely is of interest for some* people reading this thread to be told that the cost of water on an 'extra' cycle can exceed any savings 'free' electricity.

*In fact some people might have thought that your original post was a recommendation to use an appliance without a full load.

EricMears

Cardew wrote: »

Let me help.

The cost of metered water for Severn Trent for 2012/13 is 152.2p(£1.522) per cubic metre.

An unusually helpful post - thank you !

So my 'approx £1.50' wasn't that far out and thankfully we country dwellers don't have to worry about the other 'surcharges'.

Let's leave 'some people' to worry about their own bills - I'm happy to put up with not having street lights or frequent bus services to earn the rewards.

Blossom2528

EricMears wrote: »

There is no 'issue'. No sane person dissects every simple remark in everyday conversation.

I think you've just realised what the rest of us guessed some time back.

EricMears

I had a vague idea that before we moved into this house our sewage & rainwater bills were considerably higher than the actual water charge so Cardew's figures surprised me. However, I've now realised that although STW were collecting all the costs they were only supplying our water but collecting sewage & rainwater on behalf of Yorkshire water. No doubt YW sewage charges were (& probably still are) rather higher than STW's.

We of course no longer need to worry about drainage costs but those of you in the 'majority' should realise that my scheme of lavatory flushing with rainwater would be even more beneficial to you. Although you'd still be putting the same amount of waste water down the sewer, the assumption would be made that if your water consumption dropped by a third, your sewage charges should be reduced by a third too.

Re the cannabis farm suggestion: Most operators are caught when their electricity bills exceed the 'norm' for their area (or when the bills drop following a bypassed meter to avoid that route). Others are caught when thermal imaging reveals an unusual hot spot on their premises.

Solar panels might avoid both those situations ! Nobody actually knows what you're doing with the generated electricity so you're less likely to attract attention. If the 'farm' is under your panels, there'll be shielding of your hotspot from passing helicopters.

N.B. this does not constitute a recommendation to try it.

John_Pierpoint

sly_dog_jonah wrote: »

Our usual washing machine cycle (Cottons Eco 40) uses 42 litres at a combined metered water/sewage cost of 15p. 1.02kWh is used per cycle.

Our usual dishwasher cycle (Eco) uses 16 litres at a combined metered water/sewage cost of 5p. 1.2kWh is used per cycle.
.

Interesting to see the improvement in water efficiency & thus electrical efficiency in 10 years - It is always difficult to decide when to junk rather than repair an elderly appliance.
I tend to work on the "If it ain't broke don't fix it" way of thinking.

sly_dog_jonah

John_Pierpoint wrote: »

Interesting to see the improvement in water efficiency & thus electrical efficiency in 10 years - It is always difficult to decide when to junk rather than repair an elderly appliance.
I tend to work on the "If it ain't broke don't fix it" way of thinking.

We didn't have much choice when we moved to this house, the old appliances were integrated into the kitchen of our old flat (and the dryer didn't work anymore). They were also around 10 years old so by no means worth moving.

grahamc2003

John_Pierpoint wrote: »

Interesting to see the improvement in water efficiency & thus electrical efficiency in 10 years - It is always difficult to decide when to junk rather than repair an elderly appliance.
I tend to work on the "If it ain't broke don't fix it" way of thinking.

That must be the most sensible approach imv. But when it does go wrong, they are hardly worth a diy repair, let alone an engineer's callout.

My 10 year old Bosch dishwaher packed up a couple of months ago (couldn't believe it was 10 years old, looks and went like new, until it broke). It was just the water pump which went - new one £24 off ebay, plus then getting hands dirty fixing it. A new one (the sameish model, just updated (and more efficient with electricity and water use)) cost £240, with a 5 year guarantee. While I really dislike throwing things away, it really was a nobrainer to get the new one.

The cost is interesting. I knew the model and googled around for the lowest price, asyado, which came out at £340 (highest about £600). Next day when ready to order, I googled again, same searches, same model number, lowest price was then £240.

Back more ontopic. Solar and e7 really make you think, don't they! Makes most solar savings (a little) hassle for very little reward, and I suspect with my small 1.75kW system, negative reward sometimes. Everything previously run overnight still gets run overnight.

[Deleted User]

Anyone know of a device that stops the wife doing a 90c wash at 7am in the morning !!!

And yet she ask how much the solar saves us :doh::wall:

Cheers