Energy debate kicks off

Latest Articles

Energy debate kicks off
Page Previous 1, 2

Downsizer Forum Index -> Energy Efficiency and Construction/Major Projects

Author

Message

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Tue Jan 24, 06 4:04 pm Post subject: Re: Energy Debate

Shane wrote:

[True, but there are millions and millions of existing houses that don't have these. If it's more cost effective for all these houses to have their own micro-powerstation installed that will half their fuel consumption it makes a lot more sense than trying to shave 20% off their consumption by reducing power consumption.

Eh? Insulation, and energy efficiency should be the priority in all homes. Doubly so in those who don't already have it.

Having a micro generator in the home and wasting 20% of it's output seems crazy to me.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45676
Location: Essex

Posted: Tue Jan 24, 06 4:08 pm Post subject: Re: Energy Debate

Jonnyboy wrote:

Shane wrote:

You're both right, this issue needs joined up thinking, but this isn't happening, the government is going to miss its renewables targets by a long shot but I bet I won't get consent for a wind turbine on my land.

Shane

Joined: 31 Oct 2005
Posts: 3467
Location: Doha. Is hot.

Posted: Tue Jan 24, 06 4:21 pm Post subject:

One of my colleagues recently had an application for a windmill turned down. It was in a large field, screened by large, mature, native trees, and studies had been done to show that flicker and noise wouldn't annoy anybody.

Not sure that said colleague calling the objecting villagers "small-minded idiots with a very simplistic view on the world" (to be fair, they were Cornish

) in the local press helped his case very much.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45676
Location: Essex

Posted: Tue Jan 24, 06 4:25 pm Post subject:

Shane wrote:

Not sure that said colleague calling the objecting villagers "small-minded idiots with a very simplistic view on the world" (to be fair, they were Cornish

) in the local press helped his case very much.

I'll be bending over backwards to please the community, but why should I have to? Surely it's the ultimate expression of selfishness if the local parish council object to it, isn't it?

Shane

Joined: 31 Oct 2005
Posts: 3467
Location: Doha. Is hot.

Posted: Tue Jan 24, 06 4:27 pm Post subject: Re: Energy Debate

Jonnyboy wrote:

Yeah - sorry, I wasn't being very clear. It would clearly be madness not to address relatively low cost, low hassle items like insulation and energy efficient glazing. What I meant was that it might well be more cost effective to install these micro powerstations (which sound no more complicated or space-consuming that a domestic boiler) than to retrofit PV cells and wind generators to a considerable percentage of existing houses.

As Tahir said, it needs a proper look at integrating all solutions in the most effective way. So that'll be some more tax for Mr Blair to spend on a new committee that will spend five years studying the problem to come up with some obvious recommendations that will be cherry picked and largely ignored, then.

Shane

Joined: 31 Oct 2005
Posts: 3467
Location: Doha. Is hot.

Posted: Tue Jan 24, 06 4:31 pm Post subject:

tahir wrote:

I'll be bending over backwards to please the community, but why should I have to? Surely it's the ultimate expression of selfishness if the local parish council object to it, isn't it?

You might find that even if your turbine is large enough to supply most of the village for most of the time, key members of the parish council are having their ears bent by some very influential figures from the energy industry, as happened in this case.

ken69

Joined: 17 Jul 2005
Posts: 316
Location: Norfolk

Posted: Tue Jan 24, 06 5:37 pm Post subject: ENERGY DEBATE
Whispergen is Powergen's answer to the energy crisis...�3000. I think..

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45676
Location: Essex

Posted: Tue Jan 24, 06 5:38 pm Post subject: Re: ENERGY DEBATE

ken69 wrote:

Whispergen is Powergen's answer to the energy crisis...�3000. I think..

They're just the UK distributor, it was developed in NZ and has been marketed there for a couple of years

ken69

Joined: 17 Jul 2005
Posts: 316
Location: Norfolk

Posted: Tue Jan 24, 06 5:41 pm Post subject: Energy Debate
....and is is not The Energy Savings Trust's job to do the joining up, and what is their latest project...to strengthen the qualifications of installers. As if you need a degree to install loft insulation. Ye gods.

oldhibberd

Joined: 09 Mar 2005
Posts: 118

Posted: Tue Jan 24, 06 7:50 pm Post subject:

I'm convinced Insulation and reduction in use need to come first.

We seem to be obsessed with the idea that technology can be used to solve all our problems, and will allow us to carry on regardless.

I would love somebody to do an analysis on how many resourses were wasted last month with all those pointless megawatts of pretty xmas lights, to say nothing of the millions of tons of C02. Surely this sort of thing could be stopped.

ken69

Joined: 17 Jul 2005
Posts: 316
Location: Norfolk

Posted: Wed Jan 25, 06 9:16 am Post subject: energy debate

oldhibberd wrote:

So agree, Old., shop lights on all night, the public seemingly unaware of the cost of leaving appliances on standby, trains and buses running empty, cars with only one person in them, two men doing one persons job, the list is endless.Thank you for letting me rant.

monkey1973

Joined: 17 Jan 2005
Posts: 683
Location: Bonnie scotland

Posted: Wed Jan 25, 06 1:15 pm Post subject:

IMO the first thing that requires changing is the public's attitude towards power consumption. Education about the potential cost savings to be had when things are switched off at the plug for example will focus peoples thoughts on the matter. Follow that up with subsidised insulation, glazing and alternative power supplies etc. and reinforcing the point about the further cost savings available then, I think, their is potential for real change. The small print could include that they are helping to save the planet also!.

Shane

Joined: 31 Oct 2005
Posts: 3467
Location: Doha. Is hot.

Posted: Wed Jan 25, 06 1:22 pm Post subject:
I suspect that as the oil price, and hence gas and electricity prices, continue to be rise people will tend to become more aware of these issues anyway. The only way to change bulk public opinion re. consumption is either through their wallets, or by making life extremely uncomfortable for them (e.g. power shortages).

puffedpride

Joined: 05 Nov 2005
Posts: 300
Location: bristol

Posted: Wed Jan 25, 06 2:06 pm Post subject:
Carbon rationing for homes? Feasible?

Shane

Joined: 31 Oct 2005
Posts: 3467
Location: Doha. Is hot.

Posted: Wed Jan 25, 06 3:35 pm Post subject:
Won't happen unless supplies run out - and even then, they'll put the rations on industry first.

	Downsizer Forum Index -> Energy Efficiency and Construction/Major Projects	All times are GMT Page Previous 1, 2
Page 2 of 2

View Latest Posts