Solar Power

[wizer]

I see the UKWS Debate Team have picked this up elsewhere. Has anyone here experienced Solar Power? I'm starting to seriously consider it. Our electricity bill has shot up in the past year. I don't think I want solar heating as it means putting a tank in the loft.

The back of our house faces South-ish. Is it as simple as buying a kit and fitting it on the roof?

Am I likely to Zero our electricity bills? Or just reduce?

Interested in your views.

 

[lurker]

If you mean photovoltalics - my guess the payback period would be off putting.

 

[lurker]

I'm currently down at Dungeness refuelling the reactor.

I could drop off a few sticks of plutonium on my way home :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Mark68]

I've heard people talking on the radio, that the ones you can buy from b&q and such places are not worth it..you will never get your money back!!
The great Johny Ball was talking one night, and even he said that they were a waste of time,,a gimmick.

 

[OLD]

This may be a good place to start.
http://www.itsnoteasybeinggreen.org/forum/

 

[wizer]

Thanks guys, looks like I have got some reading to do. I have also arranged a couple of quotes. I'll make sure I am abreast of the technology before I enter into anything. On the face of it, it sounds like a massive outlay for little payback. I wonder in these hard times, if 'green credentials' will be one thing that helps retain a houses value?

 

[Digit]

Now that's a good question. What am I bid for a three bedroom bungalow and half acre of garden?
LPG heating, re-plumbed, re-wired, etc etc ,well insulated, heating costs under 10 pound per wk in winter. On main bus route, nearest town four miles away, close to beach.
Then of course I mention that it is all timber with asbestos cement roof covering and people run a mile, so you tell me WiZer.

Roy.

 

[Paul Chapman]

I wonder in these hard times, if 'green credentials' will be one thing that helps retain a houses value?

Very doubtful, in my view.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Rich]

I wonder why cavemen were so called? :wink: , perhaps it will all turn full circle.

Regards,

Rich.

 

[RogerM]

Navitron is another site well worth trawling through.

www.navitron.org.uk/

Seriously considering one of their Solar hot water solutions, as we have a roof facing due south.

 

[Tusses]

what do you use your electricity for ? you havent said !

you need to know exactly what energy you use for what - gas or electric - before you can start to consider reducing the bill.

 

[Travis]

Hello Wizer

You might find this thread very interesting. I did.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/tennesse ... essee.html

Travis

 

[Deejay]

On the face of it, it sounds like a massive outlay for little payback.

Hello WiZer

I think you are right.

A friend of mine has just looked into PV solar.

A professionally installed system, feeding any power that you don't use back into the grid worked out at about £6,000 per installed KiloWatt.

Dave

 

[wizer]

what do you use your electricity for ? you havent said !

you need to know exactly what energy you use for what - gas or electric - before you can start to consider reducing the bill.

Household electric Rich, same things we all use our electric for. Minor workshop use.

Our last (first in this house) bill came in at £800 for a quarter. Fair enough it was the winter quarter, but if they continue in that region then I'm shelling out 3k a year on electric.

When I posted, I assumed that I could plonk a few PV panels on the roof and bingo: free electric. I'm a little more informed now. I need to get my head around it, it could still be an option. Depends how long we stay in the house and how long this depression lasts.

Thanks for the links, I am going to spend some time working it all out.

 

[Digit]

Are you using night storage heaters?

Roy.

 

[Tusses]

house hold electric ! could mean a lot of things !

as Digit said - Storage heaters ? emersion heaters /
fan heaters ? bar heaters ? electric or gas cooker ? gas central heating ? etc etc

producing heat from electricity is very ineficient.

we dont have central heating, but we have a log burning stove/heater. I collect scrap wood and pallets throughout the year, and out heating bill including hot water is about £5 / week in the coldest part of winter.

Our house is 200 yrs old and not well insulated so you can see the advantage of wood heating !

solar electric - either wind or PV is very UN cost effective . ok for watching TV for a couple of hours or listening to the radio etc but not for serious ampages !

 

[wizer]

Gas Combi heating. No electric heating.

 

[Digit]

That bill seems OTT at about ten pounds a day. If it's not going into heating I think you need to examine your usage rather than worry about alternative methods of producing it.

Roy.

 

[Tusses]

That bill seems OTT at about ten pounds a day. If it's not going into heating I think you need to examine your usage rather than worry about alternative methods of producing it.

Roy.

:sign3:

you need to find out what is eating all that lek trickery !

 

[wizer]

Been there, done that.