Cost of living crisis

[Spud]

How to get energy bills down? I'm considerig solar panels, but would prefer something a bit more accessible! A bloke on the allotments has built a massive compost bin and when you stick your hand in it feels really warm. He says you have to build it up in alternatig layers - grass, leaves, kitchen waste etc.
I saw somewhere that by rigging up a coiled pipe in the middle of a compost bin you can feed cold water in and get hot water out. That would be funky.

[Aruntraveller]

Solar panels long-term are a good investment but you have to bear in mind the initial outlay and then the wait before you see a positive return, as the article below points out if you have the cash available then it is worth considering. That's just the financial aspect, there is also the very important benefit to the environment to factor in. You can then not only save money in the long run but also feel virtuously superior to your wastrel neighbours!

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/free-solar-panels/

No idea about the compost idea, a bit impractical for me as I live in a flat!

[jeremyp]

Solar panels long-term are a good investment but you have to bear in mind the initial outlay and then the wait before you see a positive return, as the article below points out if you have the cash available then it is worth considering. That's just the financial aspect, there is also the very important benefit to the environment to factor in. You can then not only save money in the long run but also feel virtuously superior to your wastrel neighbours!

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/free-solar-panels/

They quote £6,500 but is that for a panel or for an installation. Even if the latter, on their own figures, it'll take ten to twenty years to recover your investment.

No idea about the compost idea, a bit impractical for me as I live in a flat!

Ditto. Also means I can't do solar panels or have an electric car.

[ProfessorDavey]

They quote £6,500 but is that for a panel or for an installation. Even if the latter, on their own figures, it'll take ten to twenty years to recover your investment.

Solar panels is certainly a major investment, but should pay back in a much shorter time than that.

We had ours put in a couple of years ago and their (conservative) estimate was that it would take 8-9 years to cover the cost. And I do think decent companies are careful not to over-claim - indeed we are generating about 10% more than they'd estimated.

And of course these estimates did not factor in the huge spike in electricity costs - so this will reduce time to break even further.

We have quite a few other people in our road with panels and about 9 years to recoup costs seems to be the norm, although it does depend on you having appropriate roof space that points in the right direction

[Spud]

No idea about the compost idea, a bit impractical for me as I live in a flat!

Our dishwasher is dead and just sitting there, so it would certainly serve as a good place to try something out.

[Maeght]

Our dishwasher is dead and just sitting there, so it would certainly serve as a good place to try something out.

Never actual heard of indoor composting.

[BeRational]

Solar panels is certainly a major investment, but should pay back in a much shorter time than that.

We had ours put in a couple of years ago and their (conservative) estimate was that it would take 8-9 years to cover the cost. And I do think decent companies are careful not to over-claim - indeed we are generating about 10% more than they'd estimated.

And of course these estimates did not factor in the huge spike in electricity costs - so this will reduce time to break even further.

We have quite a few other people in our road with panels and about 9 years to recoup costs seems to be the norm, although it does depend on you having appropriate roof space that points in the right direction

I had solar panels in 2014 and benefit from the feed in tariff.
I suspect there is not much point in solar panels now without a battery as the feed in tariff is gone for new installations

[Harrowby Hall]

I had solar panels in 2014 and benefit from the feed in tariff.
I suspect there is not much point in solar panels now without a battery as the feed in tariff is gone for new installations

So the only point of solar panels is to receive the feed-in tariff? Does every home improvement have to be submitted to a cost accountant for approval?

I had solar panels installed about four years ago (a scheme organised by Ikea). I did it because I wanted to be a little more self-reliant and I saw it as a genuine home improvement. i did not see it as a way of grabbing money from someone else. I find it bizarre (to say the least) that new housing developments are not obliged to be fitted (where feasible) with solar panels.

[Steve H]

Some people recommend building compost heaps in layers, but it isn't necessary, provided you get the mix of soft, nitrogen-rich stuff and tough, carbon-rich stuff right. The advantage of layers is that it provides a visual guide to that.

[Steve H]

No idea about the compost idea, a bit impractical for me as I live in a flat!

You could always try Indore composting...

[jeremyp]

Our dishwasher is dead and just sitting there, so it would certainly serve as a good place to try something out.

Get a new dishwasher. Dishwashers are significantly more energy efficient than washing by hand.

[BeRational]

So the only point of solar panels is to receive the feed-in tariff? Does every home improvement have to be submitted to a cost accountant for approval?

I had solar panels installed about four years ago (a scheme organised by Ikea). I did it because I wanted to be a little more self-reliant and I saw it as a genuine home improvement. i did not see it as a way of grabbing money from someone else. I find it bizarre (to say the least) that new housing developments are not obliged to be fitted (where feasible) with solar panels.

You miss the point!

If you do not have a means of storage solar panels are not much use unless you can use the power generated.
I receive  money because I put energy into the grid for everyone else to use.
Also I did this in 2014 well before this issue, and I did it to be more efficient in my use of energy.
Thanksgivings

[Harrowby Hall]

You miss the point!

If you do not have a means of storage solar panels are not much use unless you can use the power generated.
I receive  money because I put energy into the grid for everyone else to use.
Also I did this in 2014 well before this issue, and I did it to be more efficient in my use of energy.
Thanksgivings

No, you miss my point.
I receive FIT but I did not buy the panels for that reason. I bought the panels because I wanted to be a little more self-sufficient.

[BeRational]

No, you miss my point.
I receive FIT but I did not buy the panels for that reason. I bought the panels because I wanted to be a little more self-sufficient.

Me too so what's the issue?

If you buy panels now without a battery you will not be able to use what you have generated. That's all I am saying

[Spud]

My car turns into an oven in the summer - could that heat be converted into electricity?

[Aruntraveller]

My car turns into an oven in the summer - could that heat be converted into electricity?

Not exactly convert the heat inside, but you could try this:

https://www.buyacar.co.uk/cars/871/cars-with-solar-panels

It doesn't sound very cost effective though 

[Udayana]

Me too so what's the issue?

If you buy panels now without a battery you will not be able to use what you have generated. That's all I am saying

Is the SEG a replacement for FIT? - it seems you can get paid for feed in if you shop around.

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-and-social-schemes/smart-export-guarantee-seg

[Udayana]

Not exactly convert the heat inside, but you could try this:

https://www.buyacar.co.uk/cars/871/cars-with-solar-panels

It doesn't sound very cost effective though 

You can buy solar car battery trickle chargers at reasonable cost - have been considering them as our cars are not used much nowadays.

[Spud]

Not exactly convert the heat inside, but you could try this:

https://www.buyacar.co.uk/cars/871/cars-with-solar-panels

It doesn't sound very cost effective though  https://www.sunstore.co.uk/product/1300w-24v-1-1kwh-deluxe-off-grid-solar-kit/

Interesting, thanks for looking

[Spud]

Get a new dishwasher. Dishwashers are significantly more energy efficient than washing by hand.

I recently bought a new Hoover Breeze Evo to replace an old 2kW hoover. It sucks up a lot of dust, and is under 1kW. But am enjoying washing up by hand at the moment, less smells coming from the machine and less bending down to load and unload. The only disadvantage is needing to wear gloves, which makes it a bit fiddly.

[Steve H]

I'd drive an electric car, but I haven't got a current licence.

[Sebastian Toe]

I'd drive an electric car, but I haven't got a current licence.

Don't be tempted, if you got caught you would be charged!

[Spud]

Don't be tempted, if you got caught you would be charged!

And that would ampere is ability to pay is bills...

[jeremyp]

Don't be tempted, if you got caught you would be charged!

Simply shocking.

[Spud]

Or how about a good old fashioned fireplace? The better the house insulation, the smaller the carbon footprint.

"White man damn fool — builds great big fire and have to get a long ways from it. Indian builds a little fire and sets around it."  - Indian chief.