Captain... Posted 31 July 2013 Posted 31 July 2013 Depends on how quickly we can research them and if the big energy companies are willing to play ball with the change rather than keeping things just the way they are as it's making money for the present time. I'm fully willing to believe that the big oil/gas companies hold the patents on many different renewable techs but are suppressing them until we really, really need them in order to make a quick £ when supplies begin to run out and to control the market when the 'miracle new' tech comes in to rescue us all. As an aside, nuclear fusion is very, very safe indeed - no waste, no risk of meltdowns.and no fissionable nuclear material that could be used for bombs. If nuclear fusion could be reproduced and controlled it will hail a new dawn for mankind where energy is abundant and we no longer need to rely on fossil fuels and finite resources, but it still looks like a long time before it will be ready, if ever. In the meantime we really must be looking at harnessing all the free energy around us, how many people have investigated if their house is suitable for free solar panels? A number of companies offer this, it is a no brainer, free energy 0 cost. Why haven't the government stipulated that all new housing should have solar panels built into the design as standard and be as energy efficient as possible? Why aren't mobile devices designed with solar panels? Why is this not bigger news http://www.scidev.net/global/icts/news/new-mobile-phone-runs-on-solar-power.html and being incorporated into all new mobiles? I would have loved one of those at Glastonbury.
Jon the Hat Posted 31 July 2013 Author Posted 31 July 2013 If nuclear fusion could be reproduced and controlled it will hail a new dawn for mankind where energy is abundant and we no longer need to rely on fossil fuels and finite resources, but it still looks like a long time before it will be ready, if ever. In the meantime we really must be looking at harnessing all the free energy around us, how many people have investigated if their house is suitable for free solar panels? A number of companies offer this, it is a no brainer, free energy 0 cost. Why haven't the government stipulated that all new housing should have solar panels built into the design as standard and be as energy efficient as possible? Why aren't mobile devices designed with solar panels? Why is this not bigger news http://www.scidev.net/global/icts/news/new-mobile-phone-runs-on-solar-power.html and being incorporated into all new mobiles? I would have loved one of those at Glastonbury. Why would the Government need to stipulate this if it such a good idea? The market will determine if this is cost effective. Take an example. Near me, the eco-warriors of Woking Borough Council, rather than selling a police house for lets say a conservative £300k, decided instead to spend £350k on turning into in an Eco-house! This eco house is used to educate people and school children on the wonderful technology that can be installed in exisintg homes to make them more energy efficient. Local councillors were very supportive. Funnily enough though, despite the fact that most of the councillors were home owners, and people with some means, none of them installed any of the systems in their own homes. So, £650k cost to the council tax payers, and people who think the idea brilliant are not even taking their own medicine. Why? becuase these technologies only pay for themselves in some instances in new build properties. If and when they all make sense economically they will no doubt be found everywhere. In the meantime, people and developers can and should make their own decisions.
ADK Posted 31 July 2013 Posted 31 July 2013 You're right they ought to legislate or not bother. This wishy washy idea of asking the public to do things nicely never works. Like they did with light bulbs, if it wasn't for banning the sale of incandescent bulbs i'm sure people would still be using them.
OzFox Posted 31 July 2013 Posted 31 July 2013 I'm fully willing to believe that the big oil/gas companies hold the patents on many different renewable techs but are suppressing them until we really, really need them in order to make a quick £ when supplies begin to run out and to control the market when the 'miracle new' tech comes in to rescue us all. That's one conspiracy theory I could actually imagine to be true
Captain... Posted 31 July 2013 Posted 31 July 2013 Why would the Government need to stipulate this if it such a good idea? The market will determine if this is cost effective. Take an example. Near me, the eco-warriors of Woking Borough Council, rather than selling a police house for lets say a conservative £300k, decided instead to spend £350k on turning into in an Eco-house! This eco house is used to educate people and school children on the wonderful technology that can be installed in exisintg homes to make them more energy efficient. Local councillors were very supportive. Funnily enough though, despite the fact that most of the councillors were home owners, and people with some means, none of them installed any of the systems in their own homes. So, £650k cost to the council tax payers, and people who think the idea brilliant are not even taking their own medicine. Why? becuase these technologies only pay for themselves in some instances in new build properties. If and when they all make sense economically they will no doubt be found everywhere. In the meantime, people and developers can and should make their own decisions. That is exactly why the government need to legislate, you can tell people until you are blue in the face that solar panels will pay for themselves and then some in the long run, as will double glazing, decent insulation, hybrid cars, but people are essentially lazy, and short termist, especially if the changes require an initial outlay greater than the alternative. Whilst it is up to people how they spend their money, and they can waste it if they want, there are long term implications of our reliance and overuse/waste of finite energy resources, the government's role is to legislate for a better society and make decisions regarding the big picture that we as individuals can't make, if they just leave everything up to market forces, then what is the point of having them? Breaking our reliance on oil whether through nuclear fusion, renewable energy sources or some other means will lead to the next step forwards for mankind, that I am sure of.
Babylon Posted 31 July 2013 Posted 31 July 2013 Bit of an impractical system though isn't it? The baker has to work hard every day to provide food that everybody needs, what can the manicurist give him that he'd want in return for his bread? A much simpler system is instead of exchanging favours we hand over bits of paper of an agreed worth that the baker can spend on things he actually wants and needs. Manicurist? Yes putting pointless jobs from this day and age into a system like that isn't going to work. In reality the manicurist would more likely be someone harvesting the grain to make the bread, or someone who makes sacks to store the flour and grains etc etc. I'd much rather have a simpler life than the current way of living where employers think they actually own you.
Babylon Posted 31 July 2013 Posted 31 July 2013 solar panels When someone invents ones that don't make your roof look like the side of a space shuttle, I might consider them.
Captain... Posted 31 July 2013 Posted 31 July 2013 When someone invents ones that don't make your roof look like the side of a space shuttle, I might consider them. Space shuttles are cool, but you are right, I do often sit and marvel and the beautiful grey slate on my roof, or the dirty reddy brown with bits of lichen of my neighbours house. I literally spend hours in my garden not looking at the beautiful colourful plants, nor the strapping apple tree, not even the small pond teeming with wildlife, I like to look at my roof. Seriously unless you have a thatched a roof, or some ornate Chinesey style roofing, the aesthetics really shouldn't be a consideration when you could save a small fortune in energy bills and are doing your bit to save the planet, not to mention it is free (if you have a decent sized south facing roof).
Guest MattP Posted 31 July 2013 Posted 31 July 2013 Hope you are joking there those solar panels on the top of people's houses are among the most ghastly things I've seen. Got be taking place 10k off your neighbours house value. I'd be fuming if someone near here got them installed.
Captain... Posted 31 July 2013 Posted 31 July 2013 Hope you are joking there those solar panels on the top of people's houses are among the most ghastly things I've seen. Got be taking place 10k off your neighbours house value. I'd be fuming if someone near here got them installed. Nope, I can honestly say I have never been offended by the sight of a solar panel, nor a wind turbine for that matter, nor a Hydro electric damn and for balance neither cooling towers nor chimneys, but solar panels are on the roof, unless you are a pigeon, you aren't going to see them very much, as for it taking 10k off your house, behave Matt, you are going to tell me your neighbour having a Prius will take 5k off your house price next.
Rincewind Posted 31 July 2013 Posted 31 July 2013 Don't think money think green. Unless it's green money. Maybe they'll come up with a design to satisfy all.
Guest MattP Posted 31 July 2013 Posted 31 July 2013 Nope, I can honestly say I have never been offended by the sight of a solar panel, nor a wind turbine for that matter, nor a Hydro electric damn and for balance neither cooling towers nor chimneys, but solar panels are on the roof, unless you are a pigeon, you aren't going to see them very much, as for it taking 10k off your house, behave Matt, you are going to tell me your neighbour having a Prius will take 5k off your house price next. Well you obviously wouldn't be but many do, well we all have different opinions don't we? I know many that think windfarms ruin the countryside. I can only presume you are joking when you say only pigeons see them, it's the first thing you notice on a house unless you live in a bungalow. I went to a guys 50th the other week who has a few quid and his neighbour wanted to put them up, he offered to write them a cheque for what they would save and hand it over at the end of the year just to make sure he didn't have them on his road.
Babylon Posted 31 July 2013 Posted 31 July 2013 Space shuttles are cool, but you are right, I do often sit and marvel and the beautiful grey slate on my roof, or the dirty reddy brown with bits of lichen of my neighbours house. I literally spend hours in my garden not looking at the beautiful colourful plants, nor the strapping apple tree, not even the small pond teeming with wildlife, I like to look at my roof. Seriously unless you have a thatched a roof, or some ornate Chinesey style roofing, the aesthetics really shouldn't be a consideration when you could save a small fortune in energy bills and are doing your bit to save the planet, not to mention it is free (if you have a decent sized south facing roof). Well I notice them and I think they are fecking horrid things. Aesthetics come into everything I buy, if I wasn't interested in them and wanted to save money I could live on a council estate.
Guest MattP Posted 31 July 2013 Posted 31 July 2013 Well I notice them and I think they are fecking horrid things. Aesthetics come into everything I buy, if I wasn't interested in them and wanted to save money I could live on a council estate. Captain Pancake would hang a giant penis off his roof and claim it wasn't an eyesore if he thought he was saving the enviroment.
Babylon Posted 31 July 2013 Posted 31 July 2013 Captain Pancake would put a giant penis off his roof and claim it wasn't an eyesore if he thought he was saving the enviroment. **** the environment, what's it ever done for me?
Guest MattP Posted 31 July 2013 Posted 31 July 2013 **** the environment, what's it ever done for me? Gave me chronic asthma the bastard.
davieG Posted 31 July 2013 Posted 31 July 2013 I've always wonder why they don't put more on garage flat roofs, is there a reason? Every flat roofed building could/should have them.
Babylon Posted 31 July 2013 Posted 31 July 2013 I've always wonder why they don't put more on garage flat roofs, is there a reason? Every flat roofed building could/should have them. Would be the only place I would have them. I don't think you are even allowed to build flat roofs any more are you, they all have to be pitched. Or maybe I just made that up.
Captain... Posted 31 July 2013 Posted 31 July 2013 Captain Pancake would hang a giant penis off his roof and claim it wasn't an eyesore if he thought he was saving the enviroment. Well I sunbathe naked on the roof if that's what you mean, but that is more to get an all over tan than save the environment
ADK Posted 31 July 2013 Posted 31 July 2013 I think solar panels look great, very space age. I do prefer the monocrystaline (black) to the bright blue polycrystaline ones. I think they generate more per surface area too.
Jon the Hat Posted 31 July 2013 Author Posted 31 July 2013 If anyone can explain to me how on earth it can be more efficient to power my home by me as a consumer investing in solar Vs a power generation company investing in solar on a large scale and delivering it to me via existing infrastructure I would like to hear it. Or wind for that matter. I dont have a tidal body of water to hand so we can park that one.
Zingari Posted 31 July 2013 Posted 31 July 2013 I've always wonder why they don't put more on garage flat roofs, is there a reason? Every flat roofed building could/should have them. I don't think solar panels can work properly on flat roofs , they need to be at an angle of about 45 degrees facing south or south west. Also they would probably break if there were a very heavy layer of snow sitting on them.
Captain... Posted 31 July 2013 Posted 31 July 2013 If anyone can explain to me how on earth it can be more efficient to power my home by me as a consumer investing in solar Vs a power generation company investing in solar on a large scale and delivering it to me via existing infrastructure I would like to hear it. Or wind for that matter. I dont have a tidal body of water to hand so we can park that one. Because it is free: http://ashadegreener.co.uk/ If you have a south facing roof and is of sufficient size.
Jon the Hat Posted 31 July 2013 Author Posted 31 July 2013 Because it is free: http://ashadegreener.co.uk/ If you have a south facing roof and is of sufficient size. Dont be silly. Nothing is free. I am talking about the overall efficiency of the power generation. How is it cheaper to have lots of little installations than one or 100 huge ones? Ah I see, when you say FREE you mean tax funded. Terrible idea.
OzFox Posted 31 July 2013 Posted 31 July 2013 I don't think solar panels can work properly on flat roofs , they need to be at an angle of about 45 degrees facing south or south west. Also they would probably break if there were a very heavy layer of snow sitting on them. Yep. They need to be pointed in the direction that captures the most sun (south in the northern hemisphere, north here in Oz), and the angle depends on the latitude where you live. If your roof is accessible you can adjust the tilt of the panels depending on the season to generate more energy Some of the more modern (expensive) set ups will track the movement of the sun. Supposedly you get about 40% more energy that way. Edit: regarding their appearance, my sister installed them on her roof in somerset and had a barrage of complaints from the neighbour saying they were an eyesore
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