Daydream thread continues.....

rhiwfield

Brain hasnt been working that well over past week but my brief read of the RHI consultation seemed to confirm the govt's own misgivings over the efficiency of UK installed ASHPs, which would be my first option to replace the OIL CH.

We've picked all the low hanging fruit re heating/insulation and it would be difficult to justify further material investment.

Curiously the cheapest thing we've done is put window film insulation on some of the larger expanses of double glazed windows. As it makes a noticeable difference in eliminating cold spots, so we may do more of that. And once up, we leave it up

Choille, you need to carry on. Cant imagine your Ma would have wished anything different.

Last of my listings run off today, so expect to take a back seat for the challenge for a while. Switch on the sun in Devon nx Saturday peeps

choille

Thanks Maggie.

Yes, the pellet debate is raging in Ullapool as they have got a community project on the go - which sounds a good idea in built up ish areas. If you can call Ullapool built up.

Insulation - thick curtains are the very best thing.

Lovely elderly neighbours had funny old oil boiler & rayburn, but their system was ancient. They have replaced boiler with new super efficient one - basically they just about froze last year. In a year they've saved over £1,500 on fuel & that is not taking into account the price hikes here. Oil co are being pigs with people's oil here- created a monopoly on the Isles & are about to be lynched - feelings are running high.
They also were eligible for loft & floor insulation assistance so that has made a good difference although quite an upheaval for them at the time.

We do have to pay through the nasal passages for owt here - coz what they hike onto delivery.

alfie_1

I'm being bad tonight. Just to take my mind off stuff I've been re-listing stuff on ebay - how wicked am I? Mother not even cold. I feel her looking over my shoulder - she doesn't at all seem to mind. When I had a junk shop she used to love going in on Thursdays while I was off at auction. Even had all her pals drop in & she'd make them coffee.

aaah maybe she will encourage you in the right direction re your health...:)

my mum [in her 70s]used to do the same for me in my dollshouse shop. she used to love dealing with customers on a wednesday afternoon when i went to a trade warehouse and on a sunday so i could have a day off [i was in and out tho ] she learnt to price and put out stock [bearing in mind a shoe box size held about 100 items...] and i used to find re arranged "rooms" all tidied up....:rotfl::rotfl:
she still does it at my real house now...:rotfl:

today it is raining ...:(

my son is running the NF half marathon today, 4/5 of em in full firemans kit ! dont envy them AT ALL....

local keeper came round today to fetch 4 baby doves [from friends place that i collect just before they launch into flight as she has TOOOOOO many ] he wants to set up a dove cote. me finks they may end up back here tho....;) i have 14 now which includes 2 racing pigeons that joined the ranks...:o
next year it will be like an alfred hitchcock movie here...:rotfl:

well i have 2 bids on the bay and lots of watchers but thats meant zilch in past weeks..

rhiwi ,i hope your backs improving ?? maybe you are needing "the chair" a bit longer....

no tip run today me finks

im bored........ i know my back room beckons to be cleared/sorted but a cuppa and a biskwit beckons better...:D

lostinrates

It is a sit and watch the outside sort of day. Funny, the horses don't seem bothered by it. The tb has a rain sheet on but princessy special girl seems fine.

I am not sure about biscuits we are all crving cake and lashings of cream in a big way. I have a shin of beef stew in the slow cooker and apple dumplings planned for after that tonight, so stick to our ribs food.


No progress at al
L outside really. We have moved all the furniture we plan to put in the kitchen in to another barn ready to wood worm spray (just in case as it seems an appropriate time). Thiats more than i expected to get done. We are going to take a peek at my favourite local nursery this afternoon, just to get out really.

Itismehonest

Across the years I've come to realise that "green" tends to change as often as fashion.

Look at diesel ........ oh so good compared to petrol. Cheaper, the way of the future but, before we know it, diesel is found to be none of the things it was ramped up to be &, possibly, more problematical for health than petrol.
The same applies to wind-energy. According to the countries who have the longest experience with the big turbines it can't live up to it's early expectations.
Solar panels = much the same unless in the right climate. People's opinions are already split as to whether they're a pro or con when it comes to selling a property.
Biofuel - great - until they worked out that we're loosing swathes of forests & food-providing land to provide it.

Timber (in all it's fuel forms) will soon increase in price as the fashion for burning all things wood outstrips the local supply.

I'd go with whatever you prefer & what is best for your own circumstances. S*d what's green or fashionable.
After all, in the 60s it was fashionable & green to pull down rows of Victorian terraces & replace them with concrete skyscrapers. At least the old terraces lasted for longer than the 30-40 years that many of their replacements managed.

Off soap-box :rotfl:

Itismehonest

alfie_1 wrote: »

I NEED SOMETHING...

a vintage/antique black wall telphone with receiver on top, dial on front sort.... i need it to go on the wall of a vintage childs hand built copy of a BT red phone box...

There's this

However, the old bakelite ones usually cost a fortune now, alfie, so I'm not sure why this is so cheap.

How about one of the wall-mounted plastic ones that were around in our yoof. There's one here for a couple of quid

alfie_1

Totally agree...............:(

my idea of running a generator at £170 for 500 litres now equates to £375 in 8 years....:( and thats the cheaper red....:eek:

iv just been ploughing through properties to rent taking into account the fuel bill as replaced with rent increase as to what i could afford..... BIG FAT NIL....:(

as you can tell this rain etc is not doing my moral good today..:o

son just rang hes finished run in 2hr 20mins [13 miles]

alfie_1

Itismehonest wrote: »

There's this

However, the old bakelite ones usually cost a fortune now, alfie, so I'm not sure why this is so cheap.

How about one of the wall-mounted plastic ones that were around in our yoof. There's one here for a couple of quid

thanks. 1st one is cheap cos its pick up only ,they wont post, iv asked

but 2nd one im watching...

rhiwfield

Itsme, agree with some of what you say, and disagree with other parts.

Our modern lifestyles are so energy intensive that supply side solutions will usually have flaws. Much more needs to be done to tackle demand side.

Locally should we suffer the impacts of fracking so that people can have cheap gas?

Should airports be expanded so that more people can jet away on hols.

Should we accept right to unlimited car travel even though biofuels are causing food price rises?

I think you have to delink green and fashionable.

I strongly agree with the concept of living within sustainable energy supply. So for me utilising the energy of water, wind, sun, anaerobioc digestion are not about fashion but about necessity.

Then again I do consider climate change to be real BUT I dont have any hope that govts will take effective action and that nature will do that for them in the form of weather extremes and crop failures.

Govt encouraging use of wood fired appliances seems short sighted and cost of wood has risen astronomically in many areas and will no doubt continue to do so. I personally would not put in a CH system that relied on it unless I had a private wood supply. Does it make sense to rip out an efficient oil boiler and fittings to replace with an ASHP. Probably not. Does it make sense to spend £10 to fit more window film insulation. Definitely yes.

For a new build I would look at passive heating using solar gain (incl transpired walls?) and would install solar thermal even though not economic atm. I would again put in solar pv. I'd improve insulation and heat recovery systems. If what I do is unfashionable or fashionable is besides the point, if it fits within a modern green definition likewise, the important elements would be does it work, is it sustainable, is it affordable?

Off my soapbox too :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

rhiwfield

alfie_1 wrote: »

thanks. 1st one is cheap cos its pick up only ,they wont post, iv asked

but 2nd one im watching...

Alf, if you dont get one let me know, might be able to pick one up at auction if you give me a price limit.