Alchemausterity II

Alchemilla

greenbee said:

Alchemilla said:

greenbee said:

Maybe now's the time to get solar panels and air source heat, given the issues with energy supply and prices. Or possibly get the ponies and guinea pigs generating power for you? 

I did look into putting solar panels on the barn but the projected output was disappointing given its size.

I could get the guinea pigs a tiny dynamo rigged up to a hamster wheel!

Might be worth looking at solar again (PV & thermal) if you're going to have to replace the boiler. It might be more worthwhile if you're putting in airsource heat. Mind you, it would depend on whether your current radiators would work with it. 

We had solar thermal when I was little, and even those old-fashioned panels (which lasted about 40 years) cut the bills significantly. I don't know how long they took to pay for themselves, but if you're planning on staying long-term, investing in the infrastructure is worthwhile. It might even offset the cost of running Ember

All our radiators have very thin pipes (microbore?) so not sure it would but I'll take your advice and do some research.

Originally I looked into panels to run a leccy aga and the panels wouldn't get anywhere near.

Alchemilla

apple_muncher said:

Could you bring the ponies and piggies inside and have them downstairs generating heat for you humans upstairs???

Good plan, well the piggies live in our hall anyway. Our house is old enough that when it was a tiny cottage the livestock would have been in what is now the sitting room! 

Alchemilla

Called opt and dent. Started painting. Wm and dw times a squillion.

greenbee

Alchemilla said:

greenbee said:

Alchemilla said:

greenbee said:

Maybe now's the time to get solar panels and air source heat, given the issues with energy supply and prices. Or possibly get the ponies and guinea pigs generating power for you? 

I did look into putting solar panels on the barn but the projected output was disappointing given its size.

I could get the guinea pigs a tiny dynamo rigged up to a hamster wheel!

Might be worth looking at solar again (PV & thermal) if you're going to have to replace the boiler. It might be more worthwhile if you're putting in airsource heat. Mind you, it would depend on whether your current radiators would work with it. 

We had solar thermal when I was little, and even those old-fashioned panels (which lasted about 40 years) cut the bills significantly. I don't know how long they took to pay for themselves, but if you're planning on staying long-term, investing in the infrastructure is worthwhile. It might even offset the cost of running Ember

All our radiators have very thin pipes (microbore?) so not sure it would but I'll take your advice and do some research.

Originally I looked into panels to run a leccy aga and the panels wouldn't get anywhere near.

Microbore probably wouldn't work on air source as the temperature is lower, but worth checking with someone who knows more about it. But solar thermal would pre-heat water that went into the boiler. 

I'm not surprised PV wouldn't run an Aga! You might need a windfarm and the guinea pigs as well...

edinburgher

I know the comment about paint price inflation was about two weeks ago, but rising costs are terrifying. I got a text from 02 today to tell me my tariff was going up by RPI (7.8%). Flipping terrifying if the bill was larger than £10.14 a month at present, imagine it had been a real bill? It encourages me to pay off debt.

Ps. I know it only really works because I live on the edge of a big city, but using a cheap petrol finder type website managed to save me a buck or two when I filled up at the start of the month - never felt the need to do so before.

Alchemilla

edinburgher said:

I know the comment about paint price inflation was about two weeks ago, but rising costs are terrifying. I got a text from 02 today to tell me my tariff was going up by RPI (7.8%). Flipping terrifying if the bill was larger than £10.14 a month at present, imagine it had been a real bill? It encourages me to pay off debt.

Ps. I know it only really works because I live on the edge of a big city, but using a cheap petrol finder type website managed to save me a buck or two when I filled up at the start of the month - never felt the need to do so before.

It's a good idea. All the cheaper fuel stations are £5 in diesel away so it's a calculation.

savingholmes

Well done on the life admin.

Alchemilla

greenbee said:

Alchemilla said:

greenbee said:

Alchemilla said:

greenbee said:

Maybe now's the time to get solar panels and air source heat, given the issues with energy supply and prices. Or possibly get the ponies and guinea pigs generating power for you? 

I did look into putting solar panels on the barn but the projected output was disappointing given its size.

I could get the guinea pigs a tiny dynamo rigged up to a hamster wheel!

Might be worth looking at solar again (PV & thermal) if you're going to have to replace the boiler. It might be more worthwhile if you're putting in airsource heat. Mind you, it would depend on whether your current radiators would work with it. 

We had solar thermal when I was little, and even those old-fashioned panels (which lasted about 40 years) cut the bills significantly. I don't know how long they took to pay for themselves, but if you're planning on staying long-term, investing in the infrastructure is worthwhile. It might even offset the cost of running Ember

All our radiators have very thin pipes (microbore?) so not sure it would but I'll take your advice and do some research.

Originally I looked into panels to run a leccy aga and the panels wouldn't get anywhere near.

Microbore probably wouldn't work on air source as the temperature is lower, but worth checking with someone who knows more about it. But solar thermal would pre-heat water that went into the boiler. 

I'm not surprised PV wouldn't run an Aga! You might need a windfarm and the guinea pigs as well...

A windfarm is a possibility up here. Guinea pigs more suited to providing entitled indignation that their veggies are finished.

savingholmes said:

Well done on the life admin.

Thank you xxx

Alchemilla

@savingholmes sorry the Thanks was aimed at you.

Today I need to put a coat of paint on the wall. I've booked a smear test (knowing how to party as I do !) and rearranged the kids' eye tests that I booked yesterday with only half a brain engaged.

I also have a complicated arrangement of child collection (collect one, return to natural habitat, collect second with friend, drop friend off...) thanks to drama club.

DD2 not in a good way. Trying to spend zero, but did spend £4 of my £30 spends on an oven thermometer and have contacted handyman to fix DS's shed.

No heating apart from Ember, one heated towel rail and an electric "woodburner".

apple_muncher

Hope things improve for dd2.