Energy prices.

[owas]

I put 200w on the shed.. every little helps

 

[Farside]

I reckon I could quite easily get a couple of kW of solar heating panels on the south-facing gable end, and heating is the most important item on the energy bill.
Another idea I've been playing with for years is micro-hydro. There's a stream running along the south end of my property and a small paddle-driven alternator could supply a few hundred watts into an immersion heater all day long 24/7/365. That kind of thing really makes a difference.
If electric prices had risen as much as they have now (and more soon), but twenty years ago, both these things would have been done long since.
Roundtuits and long fingers abound.

 

[Greeves246]

I reckon I could quite easily get a couple of kW of solar heating panels on the south-facing gable end, and heating is the most important item on the energy bill.
Another idea I've been playing with for years is micro-hydro. There's a stream running along the south end of my property and a small paddle-driven alternator could supply a few hundred watts into an immersion heater all day long 24/7/365. That kind of thing really makes a difference.
If electric prices had risen as much as they have now (and more soon), but twenty years ago, both these things would have been done long since.
Roundtuits and long fingers abound.

The water people will charge you, seriously.

 

[JMS1972]

The water people will charge you, seriously.

Only if you tell them

 

[addjunkie]

I reckon I could quite easily get a couple of kW of solar heating panels on the south-facing gable end, and heating is the most important item on the energy bill.
Another idea I've been playing with for years is micro-hydro. There's a stream running along the south end of my property and a small paddle-driven alternator could supply a few hundred watts into an immersion heater all day long 24/7/365. That kind of thing really makes a difference.
If electric prices had risen as much as they have now (and more soon), but twenty years ago, both these things would have been done long since.
Roundtuits and long fingers abound.

My stream is tiny, I tried itto heat the green house…..the home made waterwheel worked but that was about it. Now in the skip!

 

[Kayos]

My mum priced up solar panels the other day, turns out over "the lifetime" (No sure who's lifetime, the panels' I suppose?), they would come 800 quid shy of paying for themselves. Won't be bothering with that then.

I have to come under 8 years repayment for energy saving measures, we target 7.5

The repayment period will only drop as prices rise

 

[Farside]

The water people will charge you, seriously.

Here, I doubt it.
Nobody would ever know, or care.

 

[GavJ]

Me trying to offset the rise in gas prices

 

[fizzy]

Me trying to offset the rise in gas prices

Please turn your phone sideways. Vertical video should be reserved for the Eiffel Tower or Nelson's column

 

[Greeves246]

Was in Morrisons this morning getting a few bits including sunflower oil and they are limiting it to two per customer so no chance if you want it for the motor. Probably means that Olive Oil will go up in sympathy. Don't know about rapeseed oil as I've never used that.

 

[Bornfree]

Was in Morrisons this morning getting a few bits including sunflower oil and they are limiting it to two per customer so no chance if you want it for the motor. Probably means that Olive Oil will go up in sympathy. Don't know about rapeseed oil as I've never used that.

Luckily I've built up a stock of 120l because there was none in sainsburys this afternoon

 

[fizzy]

My 300tdi discovery would run on 50% cooking oil no problem. If I put too much in it would get a bit lumpy but a gallon of petrol would sort that out

 

[Maker]

That is surprising. What size system? Where? Which direction? Low energy user? Expensive robbing quote? More likely her expected lifetime? High interest loan? Does she live in a flat?

I've got no idea, it was some online quote thing. It's an east/west facing roof and probably relatively low energy usage.

 

[addjunkie]

A heat pump might have been a better bet?

Not when you need planning and an archeologist to dig the trenches.

The pay back for solar to me isnt really relevant. Once the money is spent its spent. But the key is to use what you generate rather than export it for a pittance. So do as much as you can that uses power when the sun is out!

 

[daleyd]

Only if you tell them

Double it (at least) if you don’t tell them and they find out…

Not when you need planning and an archeologist to dig the trenches.

The pay back for solar to me isnt really relevant. Once the money is spent its spent. But the key is to use what you generate rather than export it for a pittance. So do as much as you can that uses power when the sun is out!

Did he not mean a heat pump in the stream, ie no trenches?

 

[addjunkie]

Did he not mean a heat pump in the stream, ie no trenches?

probably but not big enough to be worth the hassle

 

[brewdexta]

I hate buying logs, no such thing as a standard measure that you can judge cost by.

I have sorted logs for the biomass boiler, these are pine. But I need about 4 IBCs of predominantly hardwood logs for the stoves. The idea is that the boiler keeps low background heat and we light a stove, mainly in the lounge, when we need a bit more heat.

We get maybe a couple of IBCs a year from coppicing our own woods, but this varies, we have two thirds of an acre of woods and we are high up, and in the north so quite slow growing plus only about 25 years old. One IBC per year is probably an average.

So I need to buy two or three IBCs of logs a year.

I ordered from a new supplier that I haven't used before. I thought I had found a supplier that would sell IBCs of logs but unfortunately not. So 150 quid for a "level tipper load" which is a completely meaningless quantity. Oh, and plus 20 quid for delivery.

I didn't see delivery as I had just had 9 cube of concrete laid on the drive at short notice so diverted delivery to a neighbouring farm.

I went to get it today, less than two IBCs worth and a large quantity of leylandii. I shall not be using them again, if I was there I would have told 'em to take it back. Mixed yes, 40% leylandii no, I can get that for nowt.

Best place I've been for logs is the longleat estate, you rock up and weigh your vehicle and trailer, load up with whatever length logs you want, and re-weigh and pay. All the logs are well seasoned and under cover.

Weight wouldn't work in the wider world as they would try and flog wet wood that weighs more.

Builders tonne bags of logs are the ubiquitous measure. Seemed to be priced around 40 to 60 quid but I can get at least two of those in an IBC.

I usually get a tree or two donated, this is the first time I've had to buy for a while. Next time I'll go and get it and only buy if its worth it.

My Yorkshire pocket feels like it's been violated

 

[fizzy]

I hate buying logs, no such thing as a standard measure that you can judge cost by.

I have sorted logs for the biomass boiler, these are pine. But I need about 4 IBCs of predominantly hardwood logs for the stoves. The idea is that the boiler keeps low background heat and we light a stove, mainly in the lounge, when we need a bit more heat.

We get maybe a couple of IBCs a year from coppicing our own woods, but this varies, we have two thirds of an acre of woods and we are high up, and in the north so quite slow growing plus only about 25 years old. One IBC per year is probably an average.

So I need to buy two or three IBCs of logs a year.

I ordered from a new supplier that I haven't used before. I thought I had found a supplier that would sell IBCs of logs but unfortunately not. So 150 quid for a "level tipper load" which is a completely meaningless quantity. Oh, and plus 20 quid for delivery.

I didn't see delivery as I had just had 9 cube of concrete laid on the drive at short notice so diverted delivery to a neighbouring farm.

I went to get it today, less than two IBCs worth and a large quantity of leylandii. I shall not be using them again, if I was there I would have told 'em to take it back. Mixed yes, 40% leylandii no, I can get that for nowt.

Best place I've been for logs is the longleat estate, you rock up and weigh your vehicle and trailer, load up with whatever length logs you want, and re-weigh and pay. All the logs are well seasoned and under cover.

Weight wouldn't work in the wider world as they would try and flog wet wood that weighs more.

Builders tonne bags of logs are the ubiquitous measure. Seemed to be priced around 40 to 60 quid but I can get at least two of those in an IBC.

I usually get a tree or two donated, this is the first time I've had to buy for a while. Next time I'll go and get it and only buy if its worth it.

My Yorkshire pocket feels like it's been violated

Buying wood is a joke. So many people have a woodburner because it looks pretty. No need at all with gas central heating! These people are the ones that drive the prices up.
I had a chap call at my house asking if we wanted wood. I asked how much. The back of a pickup truck full for £150. He was shocked when I told him it would last me about a week. I explained that we actually use our woodburner for heating and not show!
Even now oil and gas are cheaper than buying wood. Although using electric heating the cost is around the same.

 

[addjunkie]

I hate buying logs, no such thing as a standard measure that you can judge cost by.

I have sorted logs for the biomass boiler, these are pine. But I need about 4 IBCs of predominantly hardwood logs for the stoves. The idea is that the boiler keeps low background heat and we light a stove, mainly in the lounge, when we need a bit more heat.

We get maybe a couple of IBCs a year from coppicing our own woods, but this varies, we have two thirds of an acre of woods and we are high up, and in the north so quite slow growing plus only about 25 years old. One IBC per year is probably an average.

So I need to buy two or three IBCs of logs a year.

I ordered from a new supplier that I haven't used before. I thought I had found a supplier that would sell IBCs of logs but unfortunately not. So 150 quid for a "level tipper load" which is a completely meaningless quantity. Oh, and plus 20 quid for delivery.

I didn't see delivery as I had just had 9 cube of concrete laid on the drive at short notice so diverted delivery to a neighbouring farm.

I went to get it today, less than two IBCs worth and a large quantity of leylandii. I shall not be using them again, if I was there I would have told 'em to take it back. Mixed yes, 40% leylandii no, I can get that for nowt.

Best place I've been for logs is the longleat estate, you rock up and weigh your vehicle and trailer, load up with whatever length logs you want, and re-weigh and pay. All the logs are well seasoned and under cover.

Weight wouldn't work in the wider world as they would try and flog wet wood that weighs more.

Builders tonne bags of logs are the ubiquitous measure. Seemed to be priced around 40 to 60 quid but I can get at least two of those in an IBC.

I usually get a tree or two donated, this is the first time I've had to buy for a while. Next time I'll go and get it and only buy if its worth it.

My Yorkshire pocket feels like it's been violated

Price of logs is high, one of our log guys locally is buying imported hard wood from Latvia, As the local stuff out the commercial forests is so dear. Timber in general is going to be pricey for a while as so much of it comes out of Russia. Theres always loads of folk selling builders bags of logs many are not even seasoned. 40 to 65 round here.

The IBC is a fair measure but too heavy to unload by hand, builders bag can be dragged off. One local guy round here goes by the trailer load. But has two trailers depending who you are, if your not in the “circle” its the smaller trailer. Another does similar by the trailer, but they all use different trailers.

Ive enough wind blown ash left for about another year, for house and holiday cottages, just need to cut and split it.

 

[AVI_8]

Buying wood is a joke. So many people have a woodburner because it looks pretty. No need at all with gas central heating! These people are the ones that drive the prices up.
I had a chap call at my house asking if we wanted wood. I asked how much. The back of a pickup truck full for £150. He was shocked when I told him it would last me about a week. I explained that we actually use our woodburner for heating and not show!
Even now oil and gas are cheaper than buying wood. Although using electric heating the cost is around the same.

I have gas central heating and a log burner, the gas central heating runs 24/7 in the winter cutting in and out to keep the house at 18 degrees, until 11pm then it drops to 16 degrees, its very much needed in an old house, the log burner is lit from around 5pm and runs until bedtime it keeps the living room at a nice comfortable temperature. Without it I’d have to increase the temp on the central heating which would cost more than the £500 per month I’m currently spending on gas/elec So yes it looks pretty but it’s also very functional and saves a lot of money in the long run.
Wood price has gone through the roof, a trailer and chainsaw is a major money saver, i get my wood in the spring and burn it the following winter, my wood usage is around 2.5 cubic metres per month of stacked logs.
Last night was the first night this winter we didn’t light it, and her indoors was complaining about being cold.