Is green energy supposed to mean cheaper energy?

IronGiant

It wasn't free I paid for it, dammit

just not very much

I was waiting until I got my free solar panels installed before laying it

IronGiant

We never go above 20 (morning and evening setting) on the thermostat, and during the day let it drop to 16.  Never felt the need for jumpers.  

With the toasty insulation installed although the thermostat is on 20 it's nearly 23 deg in the main living area right now

EarthRod

With our 'toasty' insulation the hallway thermostat is set on 15 deg C but the lounge temperature is 22 deg C. The bedroom radiators are on position '2' or '3' to keep the heat down.

Have trouble in keeping the heat down, in the old house we had trouble in keeping the heat up!

These modern houses (built 2011) are incredible for insulation and take a bit of getting used to.

EarthRod

I agree - all things considered it would seem nuclear power stations could deliver the bulk of power provision.

Having ditched the wind-turbine approach, Germany is now building coal-fired power stations but no doubt with CO2 capture on the output. I think the coal they dig up is 'cleaner' than ours, less heavy metals and oxides trapped in the fossilised wood.

Member 639844

Its a shame we can figure out a way to harness the power of rain and clouds

EarthRod

Well, we have - sort of. Rain produces rivers and we've constructed dams across rivers and developed hydro-electric power. Hugh amounts of power produced from hydro-electric sources, good enough for industry and large cities.

There is the very brief power of lightning, but there's no way of knowing when or where it strikes and storing it!

IronGiant

That's impressive

EarthRod

Thanks - and that's not all!! (He said enthusiastically).

There is so much residual heat in the house it doesn't cool off until about 2am the next morning. In bed we keep throwing off the duvet it's so bloody hot!

At the moment I've got the control set so the heating switches off at 6pm, will have to set it back even further so it switches off at 5pm.

I think the problem is the house is a 3-storey town house with an open stairwell so the residual heat seeps up the stairwell and into the top floor bedrooms. As the heat has nowhere else to go (due to excellent loft insulation) it just sits there roasting us in bed! Makes no odds whether the internal doors or the small slats above the windows are open or closed.

... On a learning curve here!

Member 639844

Well its obviously not implemented enough. In a country where fresh water freely falls from the skies on very very regular intervals for most of the year, it seems its still a waisted resource.

Given green energy is supposed to be used harnessing free energy (wind, tidal, solar, or hydro), it just doesnt sit right that it results in things costing so much more. Then the government wonders why things are slow to be adopted and accepted.

I find it strange that Solar power isnt harnessed more here where I live, given its sunny all year round.

EarthRod

People tend to forget that solar panels, batteries and inverters have to be manufactured in the first place. It takes a great deal of energy (and probably CO2 emissions) just to manufacture these products.

Also, solar panels and batteries last a few years before requiring replacement. Batteries last about 7 - 10 years and solar panels about 20 years. However, if the solar panels are sited where sand is blown about their lifespan is much shorter.

Solar panels are no good for industry - not enough power. In fact they are no good for houses where air-conditioning is used. Cannot handle the power load required.

Solar panels and associated kit (batteries and inverter) loose about 20% efficiency.

Solar panels will only work fully in a cloudless sky at midday. No good when dark or in cloudy conditions. Dust will also effect efficiency.

This why, in hot countries where there's lots of hot sunny days, you don't see solar panels. No good during the monsoons either!