ENERGY MATTERS

[Stanley]

If they have it's ridiculous. Only good thing about emissions from a gas burner is that they are invisible....

[Tizer]

Here it is...
Gas rebranded as green energy by EU
Victory for gas lobby as aims of €80bn EU innovation programme altered to channel money to 'low-carbon' fossil fuel.
Energy from gas power stations has been rebranded as a green, low-carbon source of power by a €80bn European Union programme, in a triumph of the deep-pocketed fossil fuel industry lobby over renewable forms of power. In a secret document seen by the Guardian, a large slice of billions of euros of funds that are supposed to be devoted to research and development into renewables such as solar and wave power are likely to be diverted instead to subsidising the development of the well-established fossil fuel....The gains of switching from coal to gas are shortlived – any gas-fired power stations constructed today would be expected to continue in operation for at least 25 years. That would mean decades of carbon poured into the atmosphere – while scientists and industry experts warn that global emissions must peak by 2020 in order to avoid the worst manifestations of climate change.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2 ... -energy-eu

[Stanley]

I wrote an essay over 30 years ago in which I said that historians in the future would have big problems trying to understand our use of fossil fuel. I knew nothing about climate change then, my argument was based on wasteful burning at low thermal efficiency and the future needs for chemical feed stock. I might have been before my time. In the future the historians will look at our actions and I suspect they will have some hard things to say about the way we underfunded renewable energy largely because of the big money opposition from those who profited from continuing to burn fossil fuels. They could easily include governments among the culprits. Energy taxes are too easy to impose and collect and make up such a large proportion of the tax take.

[Pluggy]

I wouldn't like to be the one trying to make it all work. The greens would advocate using less energy and forcing people into a lifestyle that achieves that, no government with designs on staying in power is going to go that way (there's been more than a little opposition to even something as politically bland as low energy lighting). Wind is unpopular (I was at a garden centre in West Marton yesterday, they're up in arms about a proposed Grassington wind farm.). Nuclear is unpopular, Gas is unpopular, Coal is unpopular. Judging by my run in with the council planning regarding PV panels, somebody doesn't like solar either. Everybody is expecting the lights to stay on without draconian measures, just what exactly is going to generate electricity when the huge amount of plant approaching end of life is shut down ?. The root of the problem of course is democracy, dictatorships can get things done.......

[Stanley]

Pluggy, unfortunately you're right. The reason why we managed to make such an effort in WW2 was that there was an over-riding imperative, the need to survive. Our problem these days is that there is no general acceptance in policy making of the fact that we are heading for a crunch point. We are already hearing whispers of a sticking plaster, extending the life of existing power stations including nuclear. Just think how different things could have been if the objectors had been overridden and the large Severn and Morecambe Bay barrages were in operation. As you say, eventually the truth will have to be faced and the solutions will be far more draconian than anyone suspects. Private Eye is continuing its campaign written by Old Sparky and they reveal the confusion in policy making.

[Tizer]

For over 20 years scientists have been telling government in Western countries that climate change was on its way, that we needed alternative sources of energy, that we needed to be more efficient in our use of energy, to develop alternative fuels, to secure supplies of energy, to increase our capacity to store energy and fuel. All with little effect. Government is too weak and too short term. Fasten your seat belts, we are approaching turbulence!

[Stanley]

Dead right Tiz.... My Tilley lamps, Primus stove and solid fuel stove are ready and waiting!
I suspect that many people don't realise that if the leccy goes off so does their CH boiler.

[PanBiker]

I have re jigged my tariff with British Gas and am now on a dual fuel deal fixed for the duration of the contract (up to 2014). I read my own meters and only pay for what I use, paperless billing and all done online. I have just received the BG energy monitor that I have attached to monitor the electricity usage. I will get a dual fuel monitor when my meters are replaced with fully "smart" ones. It will be interesting to see what my ambient use is when the house is "shut down" for the night, paranoia here we come!

[Stanley]

Ian, I'm on paperless billing as well and one of the things I have found is that you have to be quite disciplined about checking your account. They communicate with you via your account and if you don't log in regularly things can be going on without your knowledge.

[Tardis]

EU is now claiming that Gas has less impact on climate change than wind power

[PanBiker]

Ian, I'm on paperless billing as well and one of the things I have found is that you have to be quite disciplined about checking your account. They communicate with you via your account and if you don't log in regularly things can be going on without your knowledge.

Yes I have been for some time also. There will be no problem of keeping an eye on things with the new tariff as I will do my meter readings every month rather than every quarter as previously. The new deal is that I will only pay for what I use rather than them taking a standard debit each month regardless of usage. At one point last year I was nearly £400 in credit until asked for it back.

I have received my electricity energy monitor and it is now tracking my usage. It certainly shows you where the "biggies" are and even though I am fully aware of the appliance ratings it does make you a bit more concious about turning stuff off when you are not using it.

[Pluggy]

EU is now claiming that Gas has less impact on climate change than wind power

You're not big on evidence Tardis.

An article in a tory rag from yesterday about a tory think tank claiming that gas has less impact than wind is all I could find :

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/news ... laims.html

Many of the sceptic sites had picked up on the same report.

Given the history of the Conservatives and wind turbines, its not exactly ground breaking news and its a long way from the EU making the claim.

[Pluggy]

When you get really paranoid Panny, you're frustrated by the inaccuracy of energy monitors and you put your own system in that's accurate to the watt. Theres hope for you yet....

[PanBiker]

My lad has just taken delivery of a Raspberry Pi and is looking for something to use it for, now there's an idea!

[Pluggy]

I have an idea and there is a gap in the market, that involves a Pi (or another low cost, low energy box I can turn in to a low end server). I've had one on order from both suppliers for a couple of months now. I didn't get it in on launch day so I'll have a wait. Via are launching a slighty better specced machine at a slightly worse price in July, I'll be looking at that too: http://apc.io/

[Stanley]

The idea that gas is 'greener' than wind power is nonsense and makes you wonder what the EU definition of 'green' is. How can a technology based on resource extraction, the release of locked up carbon from fossil fuel and the production of waste heat be better for the environment than a wind turbine which functions exactly like hydro using an energy source which is totally renewable. Before anyone puts up the tired old hare about the carbon footprint of manufacturing and installing the turbines themselves forget it. When the turbines are ousted by fusion they are totally recyclable. If gas beats wind power it beats hydro, barrages and wave power as well. Mind you, par for the course given the way the EU works.

[Tardis]

I didn't see the telegraph article, I got the information from a solar PV installer

[Pluggy]

I didn't see the telegraph article, I got the information from a solar PV installer

If the EU had actually claimed that, it would be a very newsworthy item and all over the media. A glorified roofing contractor/electrician doesn't cut it as an authority on EU politics in my book.

That's not derogatory to Solar PV installers, the people that put mine in are a firm of electricians in Skipton who took on builders with roofing experience when they moved into doing Solar PV work. The 3 gang team were two roofers and one electrician who helped out on the roof when he'd finished the technical bits. The head honcho electrician showed up a couple of times dropping stuff off and checking up on his staff. One of the roofers was sub contracted. 80% of the work was fitting the mounting 'feet' to the roof.
A good lot of hard workers, they didn't leave until half past six on the first day by which time it was properly dark in late November. They came back for about 3 hours the day after to finish off.

[Stanley]

Pluggy, nice to hear a good news story about installers. Of course you had a part in that. What many people don't realise is that there is benefit in a good relationship between an interested and well-informed client and a contractor. On a well run contract the workers don't see this as interference but interest and input. For the same reason I used to climb my chimneys and talk to the steeplejacks on the job. I never encountered any drawbacks to this as long as I observed the boundary between being a good client and slipping over into interference.
I don't know about anyone else but I am back on a regime of a small shovel full of coal and a few hours heat in the evening. It's not cold but I do like to be warm, dry and comfortable! This is the sort of weather when a house can get to feel damp and uninviting if there is no heat at all. There is also the fact that 18C feels warm when contrasted with the cold outside in winter but chilly when the weather warms up a bit. Or is that just me.....

[Big Kev]

Not had the need for any heating here...

[Tizer]

I saw a sentence tagged on the end of a newspaper article the other day that seemed to say the government's changes to the `Green Deal' planned for autumn this year had been postponed. I couldn't find any more on this by searching on the web, although there is some scepticism about whether the Deal will really work. For example, this page on the web site of Eurobuild who are deeply involved in building PassivHaus and low-energy buildings:
http://www.eurobuilduk.co.uk/deal-or-green-deal/

[Tardis]

With regard to the Green Deal, I have some real reservations about it. I simply don't understand how anyone will be able to do anything with it, and it isn't aimed at business at all. We keep getting told you don't borrow you're way out of debt, so I'm wondering how this works.

There is a long awaited statement from DECC today, and people appear to be suggesting that the goal posts on some schemes are moving again. To such an extent that once a budget is spent, there literally will be nothing more. Sufficient to worry Dimplex anyway.

[Stanley]

Probably something to do with my age Kev. As the lady said last week, "Old age isn't for cissies".

[Tizer]

What has been most prominent here in Somerset is not just the low temperatures and constant rain but that the black skies mean that the days seem extraordinarily short when it's almost the summer solstice.

[Tardis]

Low carbon project update:

I believe that the Citizens Advice will be recruited to deliver information on reading utility bills, recommending fuel tariffs etc, as a part of delivering advice from Pendle's LSP group

They are looking at other areas too, but those are at an early stage.

I asked for something online which was accessible to all who could, and thus prevent a possible major queue outside the citizen's advice and swamping their other services.