Yes, and if it werent for all the planning and BR laws today, many of us would have built our own houses, many of which would contain an assortment of energy efficiency technologies. But with all todays overhead the whole thing is unaffordable and impractical for most people. So a lot of us live in more basic energy wasting buildings instead.
On Sun, 24 Sep 2006 16:57:20 +0100 someone who may be Andy Hall wrote this:-
You do like that word, for some reason.
Far more pleasant to look at than many things that are part of houses.
I suspect only a small group of people, including some trolls.
The majority have coped with more and more complicated heating systems over past decades, I see no reason why the majority will be any different in the future.
Nice try. However, research demonstrates a rather different acceptance level. Not 100%, but not what you imply.
On Sun, 24 Sep 2006 16:44:29 GMT someone who may be "Bioboffin" wrote this:-
Provided the storage cylinder is properly insulated the hot water will stay hot for a considerable time. All part of proper design and installation. Perfect? No, but nothing is.
It sounds like your friend's was badly designed. A thermostatic mixing valve is essential on some sorts of solar water heating system to avoid scalding.
Yes, and I can't understand why. Nobody's suggesting compulsory fitting and it doesn't affect anyone else - unless they find solar panels unattractive and go around looking at other people's roofs :-)
I think that the problem is that solar heating has been infected by the 'just in your area/special offer today only/show house' salesman syndrome. I certainly get frequent leaflets through the letter box telling me how I will save n% of my heating bills (where n is usually over 90% and carefully avoids mentioning that they are talking about water heating). In an environment where inflated performance claims and high pressure selling are so common scepticism is a sensible response. I don't think that the nay sayers are saying anything other than do your sums, look at costs and look at savings and make a decision.
I also find acres of uniform 'pseudo slate' on a wet grey afternoon in cheapo suburbia one of the most depressing sights in the world. Brings back memories of the Kinks 'dead end street'
On Mon, 25 Sep 2006 09:23:53 +0100 someone who may be "Mary Fisher" wrote this:-
Not to existing buildings. However, there is an argument that it should be compulsory in new buildings.
Indeed.
If one believes the City of Edinburgh Council then they are oh so keen on things environmental. So when they rejected (retrospective) planning permission for solar panels in a Conservation Area I took a look. The panels were not in the attractive square that is worth conserving, but round the side of the house. They could only be seen at certain angles from the not particularly attractive public street leading away from the Conservation Area. The panels certainly looked far more attractive than the yellow painted garage they were placed on, which had been built of concrete in the Brutal Stalinist style of architecture.
LOL! that reminds me of an ugly village in Wales, with a dreadful, rusting, rotting, partly blue painted corrugated iron structure on its outskirts who were complaining about the possible erection of windmills on distant hills.
I have to take people across the street to point out ours, it can't be seen from anywhere else - except from the hospital and police helicopters and they have more important things to do. So far everyone I've shown has been enthusiastic, five friends are looking into the system themselves. I have no interest in the company and haven't advised anyone, just bragged :-)
We've never had anything like that. We get lots and lots of handyman, roofing, guttering etc. leaflets but none for swh. And one of the gutter ones turned out to be superb. You can't guarantee that they're all undesirable.
But why try to preach to others about it? I don't advise people not to watch television because of my dislike of it ...
It's not up to them to assume that those who are interested aren't intelligent enough to think for themselves.
I'm sure you're right. I don't claim to be anything other than a complete novice with regard to these systems. I am, however very interested (who wouldn't be with nothing other than increasing fossil fuel costs in prospect - together with the environmental damage of using fossil fuels). I intend to fit one or other of the systems on offer in the not too distant future. Maybe also a wind generator!
On Mon, 25 Sep 2006 12:49:13 +0100 someone who may be "Mary Fisher" wrote this:-
Indeed. Plenty of people offering to cut down a tree, though they have stopped since I chopped it down myself (it is now a trunk sticking out of the ground). A few people offering to tarmac the path, which is the council's responsibility. Absolutely nobody offering to fit solar panels.
On Mon, 25 Sep 2006 12:54:22 +0100 someone who may be Andy Hall wrote this:-
Why?
It is an excellent idea to fit a wind turbine or two to the roof. However, unlike solar panels they are not suitable on all houses, so I would advocate selecting from a range of alternative forms of engineering to produce electricity.
On 25 Sep 2006 12:30:25 GMT someone who may be Huge wrote this:-
Excellent, personal abuse. Usually the resort of those with no better arguments. Thank you for confirming this to those who were not aware of it before.
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