solar and wind power

[pigletwillie]

Today was farmers market today at Melton, home of the pork pie.

One of the local companies there was

http://www.navitron.org.uk/index.htm

We intend to convert our loft next year and when doing so looked at putting in solar water heating but were put off by the cost. However, these are amazingly reasonable.

Just for the record, I am not on commission.

[Alison]

Beware very much with the claims made by small wind turbines, there's not many of us that have the right conditions to make them worthwhile - shame isn't it. The bigger, small village ones are much more efficient. Don't know so much about the solar stuff though but obviously this is less efficient during the shorter winter days when we tend to need more power.

[pigletwillie]

I wasnt so bothered about the windpower but the solar is great, it does not need heat to work, just light so you still get some benefit on an overcast winters day.

[Alison]

Let us know how you get on, always good to get the personal perspective.

[pigletwillie]

Will do Alison.

Whilst we have central heating we use the woodburners most nights when cold so most of our gas use is cooking and heating hot water. If we can reduce the last bit we will hardly use any gas which will be good on the bill side.

[SarzWix]

...Whilst we have central heating we use the woodburners most nights...

We thought we'd do that last year - we found an open fire in the living room (after pulling out the condemned gas fire), and Dad had some conifers cut down the year before so the wood was well-seasoned & free! Unfortunately we have a grumpy old man across the road, who decided to report us to the environmental dept of council - apparently our side of the road is in a 'smoke-free zone'. Across the road isn't, as they are classed as the next village... How ridiculous is that??!! As the smoke-free stuff costs too much, we're back to relying on the central heating again. Bum... Oh, to live in the middle of nowhere...

[pigletwillie]

If you use well seasoned wood such as oak, ash or beech, it burns very cleanly indeed. Old pine is too full of resin and burns with quite a bit of smoke.

Yoy cant beat a real fire and am about to light the multi fuel stove now.

[seasprout]

Today was farmers market today at Melton, home of the pork pie.

So did you get a Pork Pie or not..?

(I often go to Melton on a Tuesday.)

[pigletwillie]

No Seasprout but did buy a whissendene loaf and some quality snorkers.