The cost of living... what can we do?

I've got loads of them @Loofah ,just send me your adress and I'll put them in the post.

 

I think it's crazy that heat pumps are being pushed on people. Ground source heat pumps are apparently much more efficient, but to install them involves having your garden dug up so a bit of a non starter for retrofitting, but a possible option for new builds in some circumstances.

I also find it absolutely insane that the focus is on heating at all. Sure we need heating, but there are two ways to make a house warmer. One is to continuously add more heat, the other is to try to avoid losing the heat that's been added.

I understand a full retrofit of air source heat pump and new radiators and associated plumbing costs about 15 grand. That same money would go a long way towards new insulation, the latest energy efficient windows, and some nice curtains and carpets with a good insulating underlay.

 

I couldn't get rid of my incandescent bulbs quickly enough. Why use 100 watts when I can use 8 watts? I have LED bulbs everywhere except the workshop/potting shed As soon as I am able I will replace the energy-hungry 2 x 6ft fluorescent fittings (5 of them) with suitable LED battens.

 

Thanks. The problem is these fittings are so old they do not have electronic ballast but the old choke and starter.

 

I've got old fittings as well.
Just standard fluorescent so I think they would need the rewiring, I remember an electrician telling me how to do it but in the end I replaced one with a completely new sealed unit, water proof as well.

 

If I remember rightly you just bypass the ballast and starter and go directly to the new fitting, but not being an electrician best not to take much notice of me.

 

That's not really fair. For the future, builders/developpers should be or should be made to be looking at ground source heat pumps, but true geothermal systems with a vertical borehole. There certainly wouldn't be enough ground around the average new build for horizontal captors and you can't plant anything but grass above them. Combined with very good insulation, though, a heat pump can achieve almost passive energy consumption. As it's only really practical for new builds (and I don't suppose for a minute that developpers will sacrifice profits), that only leaves air/air or wood / pellet burning as economical forms of heating for existing properties.

 

I still dont see it as a form of heating for the masses, how far down do you have to go to get geothermal heat, and if you did, with housing density getting higher every year are we in danger of actually freezing the ground?
I know that sounds stupid, but often these things have unexpected consequences.
It could end up being as environmentally friendly as fracking.

 

It doesn't sound stupid at all...valid point! They'd also possibly have to take into account drains, sewers and rainwater recuperation. Certainly with our system, there has to be 3m between the captors and any other source of running water. The more I think about housing density in UK, the less feasible it seems On the bright side, though, the new houses will soon be so packed in together that they'll be terraces by any other name and will keep each other warm

 

I looked into the wiring of them and it is straightforward. Prices of tubes are pretty high though so I may still go down the sealed LED battens route.

 

Going back to the late 60s, my grandmother moved into one of those really modern blocks of flats, not high rise but thinking back it was pretty awful.
But being surrounded by others meant the heating was fairly low and she got through most winters with a couple of paraffin heaters.

 

I've just received and email from UK power networks telling me what to do if they have to cut people off this winter, this is the first one I've had.

Now they are saying its unlikely, but they might have to.
Do I detect that things are not looking good as up till now I've never been contacted and the winter is three quarters gone, I hope.

Just seems odd they are sending this out now.

Its also telling you to call 105 or visit the website should you get cut off.