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Post by Jim on Dec 27, 2020 8:36:55 GMT
On the face of it, a good deal. BUT you will probably have to change every radiator in the house as they will run at a lower temperature. Do look at the maintenance costs too, they will be expensive. How big a heat pump? 14Kw is the popular size, thats' 14Kw of electricity per hour, which will be your only energy source, you are tied into a monopoly. All sorted, new rads all round, 5kw system, not on constantly, about the same price as heating with gas, but cleaner. I'll be keeping the woodstove. At some point will fit batteries to the solar system so we could be off grid if needed, though that probably wouldn't cope with the heating. What do you propose to bring to the global warming party, Isambard Kingdom Brunel? What choice is there, for the future. Gas is being phased out.
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Post by Isambard Kingdom Brunel on Dec 27, 2020 10:36:10 GMT
On the face of it, a good deal. BUT you will probably have to change every radiator in the house as they will run at a lower temperature. Do look at the maintenance costs too, they will be expensive. How big a heat pump? 14Kw is the popular size, thats' 14Kw of electricity per hour, which will be your only energy source, you are tied into a monopoly. All sorted, new rads all round, 5kw system, not on constantly, about the same price as heating with gas, but cleaner. I'll be keeping the woodstove. At some point will fit batteries to the solar system so we could be off grid if needed, though that probably wouldn't cope with the heating. What do you propose to bring to the global warming party, Isambard Kingdom Brunel ? What choice is there, for the future. Gas is being phased out. I will bring nothing to the global warming party. My carbon footprint is huge. I took 43 flights last year, spent time in Philippines, Thailand, Myanmar, India, China, Hong Kong, Brussels, Paris, Bonn, Lebanon, London, Ireland, Inverness, Chad. Mostly on official business. When the Saudis stop burning oil and gas I may reconsider, it will not be in my life time. Its a political move, means nothing to the planet what we do in the UK, the rest of the world will do what they want. If you can stop China becoming the biggest and dirtiest economy or stop the industrialisation of India then you may make a tiny difference.
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Post by duncan on Dec 27, 2020 10:38:36 GMT
I have been considering what to do post gas boiler...but unsure what is eco friendly and economic ..do those words belong in the same sentence? I was talking to someone recently about biomass boilers. They are very expensive and very big, so can't be hung on the wall. And apparently there are no spares available for them, and hardly anyone is trained to maintain/service them.
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Post by patty on Dec 27, 2020 10:56:22 GMT
I have been considering what to do post gas boiler...but unsure what is eco friendly and economic ..do those words belong in the same sentence? I was talking to someone recently about biomass boilers. They are very expensive and very big, so can't be hung on the wall. And apparently there are no spares available for them, and hardly anyone is trained to maintain/service them. Well that'll be a no then I'll just hope mine just keeps on going
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Post by JohnV on Dec 27, 2020 10:59:20 GMT
I think whichever way you jump with "green" heating you seem to end up tying yourself for survival to a government controlled supply. On a boat the possibilities are even more restricted.
I have solid (mixed) fuel heating (Rayburn), log burning stove and oil fired heating boiler. I could change the oil fired bloiler for gas but for that amount of gas there would be problems re storage. I suppose a water heatpump system could be installed but in the winter when you need it, it requires a lot of another very rare commodity ...... solar. There is no way can I see anyone being able to generate sufficient electricity to heat their boat with a heat pump.
I am just going to continue as I am for now maybe adjusting the boiler to burn heating oil as opposed to diesel but that's it.
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Post by thebfg on Dec 27, 2020 11:03:06 GMT
I have been considering what to do post gas boiler...but unsure what is eco friendly and economic ..do those words belong in the same sentence? Don't worry just yet I'm sure gas boiler thing only applies to new builds.
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Post by Jim on Dec 27, 2020 11:10:01 GMT
So what do the nay sayers propose as an alternative then? Burying your head in the sand leaves your arse in the air for a good kicking. My view is that those that can do something should. Travelling by air for relief work etc is a different matter to going abroad for a jolly.
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Post by Isambard Kingdom Brunel on Dec 27, 2020 11:15:03 GMT
The sooner we realise that nuclear power is the cleanest and most productive energy resource we have the better. All the rest, "green" alternatives pale into insignificance by comparison. If we ever solve the fusion puzzle we have no problem apart from population growth.
Gas will be around for a long while yet, the investment into infrastructure and storage is still on going, gas fire power stations are essential to provide electricity when the wind don't blow and the sun don't shine.
Germany and other east European countries still burn huge amounts of filthy brown coal.
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Post by Jim on Dec 27, 2020 11:16:41 GMT
Ive been trying to get solar hot water, they are querying the price and saying get other quotes. Only one installer within 50 miles Glad you have had a good result. This seems to be the issue, the reason why the scheme has been extended for a year. I've been trying to get quotes for internal insulation on a stone cottage, no joy, just not enough tradesmen around and they can pick and choose the easy jobs. A brilliant idea, badly thought through.
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Post by Clinton Cool on Dec 27, 2020 11:17:56 GMT
I have been considering what to do post gas boiler...but unsure what is eco friendly and economic ..do those words belong in the same sentence? I was talking to someone recently about biomass boilers. They are very expensive and very big, so can't be hung on the wall. And apparently there are no spares available for them, and hardly anyone is trained to maintain/service them. They are also expensive to run and are becoming increasingly more so, as the demand for the fuel pellets increases. This is currently offset by the government paying people to have these boilers. The government wont be able to continue to do this, should more people install them, you would think.
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Post by Clinton Cool on Dec 27, 2020 11:24:58 GMT
So what do the nay sayers propose as an alternative then? Burying your head in the sand leaves your arse in the air for a good kicking. My view is that those that can do something should. Travelling by air for relief work etc is a different matter to going abroad for a jolly. One day the penny may drop. All that's needed is to incentivise repairing things and levy heavy taxes on consumer goods. Pair this with reversing financial incentives given to people to reproduce. Sorted. I suspect the penny wont drop soon though because the very heart of our current system needs the blood of perpetual growth and rampant consumerism pumped around it in order for it to survive.
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Post by peterboat on Dec 27, 2020 11:25:00 GMT
I think whichever way you jump with "green" heating you seem to end up tying yourself for survival to a government controlled supply. On a boat the possibilities are even more restricted. I have solid (mixed) fuel heating (Rayburn), log burning stove and oil fired heating boiler. I could change the oil fired bloiler for gas but for that amount of gas there would be problems re storage. I suppose a water heatpump system could be installed but in the winter when you need it, it requires a lot of another very rare commodity ...... solar. There is no way can I see anyone being able to generate sufficient electricity to heat their boat with a heat pump. I am just going to continue as I am for now maybe adjusting the boiler to burn heating oil as opposed to diesel but that's it. Boats on mains electric are ideal for heat pumps, lots of water around you to extract the heat from. Keel cooling tanks are great for the job, my own rads are only warm most of the time and the boat remains cosy. I think we were discussing the other day how one KW of electric gets you 4-5 KW of heat not a bad exchange. Philip Waller a school mate of mine has had his system for years says its the best thing he ever did, along with the huge solar system, he is one of a number of friends that has gone that way for heating.
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Post by peterboat on Dec 27, 2020 11:29:53 GMT
The sooner we realise that nuclear power is the cleanest and most productive energy resource we have the better. All the rest, "green" alternatives pale into insignificance by comparison. If we ever solve the fusion puzzle we have no problem apart from population growth. Gas will be around for a long while yet, the investment into infrastructure and storage is still on going, gas fire power stations are essential to provide electricity when the wind don't blow and the sun don't shine. Germany and other east European countries still burn huge amounts of filthy brown coal. As a base nuclear is fine but its very expensive which is why wind turbines and other solutions will win, excess electric to produce Hydrogen is the way things seem to be heading. As an ex radiation Officer in the Army I am glad we are turning away from nuclear
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Post by peterboat on Dec 27, 2020 11:33:02 GMT
So what do the nay sayers propose as an alternative then? Burying your head in the sand leaves your arse in the air for a good kicking. My view is that those that can do something should. Travelling by air for relief work etc is a different matter to going abroad for a jolly. With luck Jim air travel will be to expensive after the virus, I am hoping for the airline companies/builders to go under around the world, it would be a start to saving the world
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Post by JohnV on Dec 27, 2020 11:35:28 GMT
I think whichever way you jump with "green" heating you seem to end up tying yourself for survival to a government controlled supply. On a boat the possibilities are even more restricted. I have solid (mixed) fuel heating (Rayburn), log burning stove and oil fired heating boiler. I could change the oil fired bloiler for gas but for that amount of gas there would be problems re storage. I suppose a water heatpump system could be installed but in the winter when you need it, it requires a lot of another very rare commodity ...... solar. There is no way can I see anyone being able to generate sufficient electricity to heat their boat with a heat pump. I am just going to continue as I am for now maybe adjusting the boiler to burn heating oil as opposed to diesel but that's it. Boats on mains electric are ideal for heat pumps, lots of water around you to extract the heat from. Keel cooling tanks are great for the job, my own rads are only warm most of the time and the boat remains cosy. I think we were discussing the other day how one KW of electric gets you 4-5 KW of heat not a bad exchange. Philip Waller a school mate of mine has had his system for years says its the best thing he ever did, along with the huge solar system, he is one of a number of friends that has gone that way for heating.
I think with guaranteed shore power then (at least for now) a heat pump could be good from an efficiency point of view ...... however it does tie you to a monopoly supply for your heating. Like the set up on Sabina, you would have to have a plan "B". ....... I think I have always had a bit of a "survivalist" attitude* to life and always have a back up plan if it is at all possible
* that kind of showed up with the mark I lockdown when I did no panic buying (only really stocked up on milk eggs and fruit) and emerged weeks later with emergency "Iron" ration part of the cupboard almost intact
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