Simplifying Life

Herewegoagain

Still trying to catch up, I might be here for a while:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

ceridwen

Hi Charis

I know that some of our electric is generated from gas - I guess the question is what proportion....I didnt think it was that high a percentage Obviously too - the thought is there in my mind that electric can be generated from renewable resources (ie windpower or - to be more realistic - wavepower. Of course - there is also solar power). We are in uncharted territory here. (Now come on - hands up - who has got that darn map? )

I think many of us (even amongst the "experts") are a bit unsure what is the way forward fuelwise at present. Bearing in mind your previous comment that "We cant all go off and buy 5 acres of land" - it is also the case that we cant all use woodburning stoves. There IS only so much wood around (certainly I frequently walk past bits of wood lying around and think "What a waste - someone would be glad of that") - but theres not enough for many of us to do that. It is an unrealistic proposition for many of us personally anyway. The mind boggles at even asking questions like:

"How do I have the system automatically set to switch on 1 hour before I get up in the morning?"
Answer - you cant.

"How does the wood magically appear ready for me to put in the stove?"
Answer "It doesnt - you have to physically go and get it".

"How does the wood get chopped up - as I couldnt do it myself?"
Answer - "Who knows?"

Question: "Where do I store the wood?"
Answer - "If you havent got the space - you have a problem".

Speaking very personally - I am working out a "survival strategy" to get through the next few years - whilst I wait for the answers to emerge as to exactly what to do personally. I think I will probably end up getting a combination of air-powered heat pump and some photovoltaic panels on the roof - and thus everything in my place will still have to be electric-powered anyways (and forget my gas things altogether). There is also the fact that my low salary level dictates that I have to wait for the Government to provide a huge percentage grant towards this work before I can get it done anyway (this could take a while - you hum it and I'll play it - and now for the tune of "Why are we waiting? W...h...y are we waiting?")

Penelope_Penguin

ceridwen wrote: »

I know that some of our electric is generated from gas - I guess the question is what proportion....I didnt think it was that high a percentage Obviously too - the thought is there in my mind that electric can be generated from renewable resources (ie windpower or - to be more realistic - wavepower.

That's not quite accurate There are many schemes generating useful amounts of energy from wind, but AFAIK, nowhere has yet generated wave energy on any scale. It's far more technically difficult than getting ebergy from wind; after all we've been doing that since the Middle Ages

Penny. x

ceridwen

...and a very good point. The point being that we need to have a lot more of our energy generated by wavepower (as that is always there). Windpower on the other hand - one has a problem generating that on calmer days;)

(NB: Howsomever.....methinks any further thoughts on alternative fuel could perhaps be made on my blog...

.....wouldnt want this to turn into a "debate" thread and vanishing over to the Discussion time board <grin>)

Penelope_Penguin

ceridwen wrote: »

...and a very good point. The point being that we need to have a lot more of our energy generated by wavepower (as that is always there). Windpower on the other hand - one has a problem generating that on calmer days;)

At the moment the technical difficulties are such that there simply isn't an economic way of harnessing wave power.

The windiness arguement is a red herring - it's always windy somewhere in the UK, and onshore and offshore wind could generate really useful amonts of energy for us if only we would allow the local authority planners to get them built

Penny. x

Penelope_Penguin

ceridwen wrote: »

.....wouldnt want this to turn into a "debate" thread and vanishing over to the Discussion time board <grin>)

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: You never did answer my question, or my subsequent one today on DT

ceridwen

Because it's Sunday I went visiting the BeliefNet site again and this time I found:

http://www.beliefnet.com/gallery/selfesteemfile.html

shaz_mum_of__2

we have a lot in common ceridwen!

We too want to "futureproof" our home against cost of utilities etc have done lots or research on solar systems but my research has shown it saves the planet but not money! our home is a 3 bed semi if we went solar cost would be about £15k and the lifetime of said system is 15 years

The cost of these systems makes them out of reach but if every home had one the need for more power stations would decrease wouldn't it?? i know industry is a different kettle of fish

In the meantime we re use reduce and recycle ,skip dive for "useful "objects and bits of wood we are freecycling and reducing our consumerism by making gifts and only replacing technology(tv dvd etc)when beyond repair

new clothes .........................what are they?? he only "new"i get nowadays is underwear lol

We do everthying and more we can and are treated as oddballs by most of society (including my own family,i am sure my sister and i are adopted ...LOL)

Rant over off to pick up some freecycle plants ............................

shaz

mary43

I think everyone is a bit scared of the energy situation.......not only the cost but just how much oil there is left in the world.....and how long will it last ?
Solar panels and anything else that would make our homes more environmentally friendly and cheaper to heat would be a boon but its the affordability of it all. I've still got four windows that need to be removed and double glazed units put it (not just for the draughts but for the low maintenance -i.e.no painting- and convenience of cleaning)
We've no open fireplaces, they've all been bricked up long ago so no chance of an open fire either.
Where I used to live we had an open fire and I cursed the messiness of it but it was cheap...........we lived near an open natural park and used to collect wood (branches than had been blown down by the winds) and burn them for free, plus OH came up with the idea of putting a green wine bottle on the fire................scared me witless when he first did it -I was sure it would explode - but it didn't and kept the fire going for a whole evening throwing out a good deal of heat. Has to be a green bottle for some reason though.
So, with having to rely on my gas for heating and I know we'll have to cut down on that.........I can see me relying on body heat......all of us snuggled up on the sofa underneath a duvet..................lol

2cats1kid

I'm going to come out of lurkerdom on this thread I think. I have just read the first 6 pages, and if you lot stop posting, and I catch up at 6 pages a day, it will take me about 3 weeks to catch you up. So I'll see you in about 3 weeks, ok?