Mister Green

2011-05-26T09:31:00.001-07:00

FEED-IN TARIFFS: photovoltaic installations in UK are increasing but still a tiny proportion of electricitygeneration.Why? http://ping.fm/BaIUJ

2011-05-26T04:51:00.001-07:00

FEED-IN TARIFFS:
-now a year or so on, there is a significant increase in the number of solar photo voltaic installations in the UK but it is still a tiny proportion of electricity generation. Why? because even though feed-in tariffs make home energy generation a good investment, it still means that home owners need to invest. In these uncertain times people are reluctant to commit. "Rent a roof" schemes- where an installer pays for the solar panels and in return recieves income from the tariff payments- remove the need for homeowners to commit capital-but they need to commit their roof for many years! Are homeowners right to be cautious? New schemes could come on line which would be more advantageous which could make selling a property with a feed-in loan more difficult

2011-04-27T00:34:00.001-07:00

Save energy by using a lower dishwasher setting Drying uses most of the energy so open the door and air dry overnight. www.mistergreen.co.uk

2011-04-06T01:47:00.001-07:00

Misted double glazing seems to be a hot topic now the weather is getting warmer www.mistergreen.co.uk

2011-04-04T03:57:00.001-07:00

Is grey water heat recovery cost effective in refurbishment? www.mistergreen.co.uk

2011-04-02T05:12:00.001-07:00

Ask Mistergreen-new forum on the mistergreen site. Any questions? Any answers? Misty glazing? Smokey wood stoves? http://ping.fm/YRoTD

2011-03-31T04:25:00.001-07:00

ASK MISTERGREEN: MISTERGREEN FORUM GOES LIVE AT http://ping.fm/AscNh

2011-03-31T00:14:00.001-07:00

Going to Eco-showcase London 7 April. See you there. www.ecoshowcase.co.uk

2011-03-25T02:17:00.001-07:00

HOW GREEN IS MY BUDGET?

How green was the UK budget? …Green Investment Bank delayed to 2015…Feed-in tariffs for medium and large installations reduced. Not much incentive to capitalise on the potential fro green growth and green jobs. Nothing on the Green Deal?. Over all a big disappointment for green business. http://ping.fm/4nt0l

2011-03-10T00:45:00.001-08:00

Will the UK govt's Green Deal re-ignite the debate about growing crops for bio-fuels? http://ping.fm/17MNX

2011-03-09T01:27:00.001-08:00

AGE POLLUTION - older people are LESS green

A report “Demographic Change and the Environment” by the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution says that the 50-64 age group consumes more energy, travels more has more electrical goods, bigger cars and eats more imported foods. Older people stay at home more and use more energy and many better-off people can afford to turn up the heating.
No surprises there!
But the problem is that these high levels of consumption could carry through as these people move into the 65-74 age group when many people still have significant disposable income.
Most people live in older houses where they are locked into high levels of energy consumption. Retirement is an opportunity to downsize and refurbish to create an energy efficient home that is better suited to the needs of later life. Money spent now will mean lower outgoings later.
Unless the 50-64 age group tackles this, there will be a time lag in improving energy efficiency as the 65-74 age group continues to consume inefficiently.
The RCEP report identifies that demography has an important part to play. Green policies should be aimed at and tailored to different generations

Most energy saving technologies require significant investment and have a long payback period. Retirement is an opportunity to downsize and unlock capital in the family home to pay the premium to move to an energy efficient home and benefit. Retirement is the time to go for solar panels and passive house technologies to increase comfort and reduce outgoings as energy costs rise and income falls. Energy efficiency is a much a matter of security in old age as providing for a decent pension.

AGE POLLUTION - older people are LESS green

2011-03-09T01:18:00.001-08:00

View the Article: http://www.mistergreen.co.uk/news/olderpeoplearelessgreen-25.htm

A report "Demographic Change and the Environment" by the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution says that the 50-64 age group consumes more energy, travels more haas more electrical goods, bigger cars and eats more imported foods. Older people stay at home more and use more energy and many better-off people can afford to turn up the heating. No surprises there! But the problem is that these high levels of consumption could carry through as these people move into the 65-74 age group when many people still have significant disposable income. Most people live in older houses where they are locked into high levels of energy consumption. Retirement is an opportunity to downsize and refurbish to create an energy efficient home that is better suited to the needs of later life. Money spent now will mean lower outgoings later. Unless the 50-64 age group tackles this, there will be a time lag in improving energy efficiency as the 65-74 age group continues to consume inefficiently. The RCEP report identifies that demography has an important part to play. Green policies should be aimed at and tailored to different generations Most energy saving technologies require significant investment and have a long payback period. Retirement is an opportunity to downsize and unlock capital in the family home to pay the premium to move to an energy efficient home and benefit. Retirement is the time to go for solar panels and passive house technologies to increase comfort and reduce outgoings as energy costs rise and income falls. Energy efficiency is a much a matter of security in old age as providing for a decent pension.

2011-03-07T02:46:00.001-08:00

Loft insulation you CAN walk on

Increasing insulation levels in lofts usually means covering over the ceiling joists and valuable storage space is lost.

Seen at Ecobuild March 2011-
Ecoloft from Ecotherm Insualtion (UK) Ltd. Rigid insulation bonded to a tongued and grooved sheet of chipboard. Similar to roofing insulation where plywood is bonded to insulation to provide an instant working deck,Ecoloftcomes in 1200 x 540mm sheets, so that it will fit through a normal loft hatch. Laid at right angles to the ceiling joists, it restores the loft to a usable storage area.
For more information: http://ping.fm/JpcBs
Any thoughts on this anyone?

2011-03-03T08:32:00.001-08:00

Went to Ecobuild today. Great show. PV everywhere! Found some micro CHP

2011-03-03T02:22:00.001-08:00

Mistergreen says: Micro CHP seems to be taking off? http://ping.fm/mJxC6(combined-heat-and-power)-199.htm

2011-02-17T10:09:00.001-08:00

Can smart home technology contribute to home energy efficiency?

2011-02-16T04:22:00.001-08:00

building scrappage scheme. find out more at http://ping.fm/D3gdi

De-scale the shower the green way

2011-02-13T08:36:00.001-08:00

De-scale the shower the green way
Use vinegar to de-scale your shower head. You can use white wine or malt vinegar,. both work There is less smell with white wine vinegar but malt or spirit vinegar is cheaper. Use the vinegar neat, do not dilute it. Put some in a plastic container and leave the shower head in it over night. To avoid the smell, put some vinegar in a plastic bag (find one without any holes!) put the shower head in and tie it up tightly. This also works if you cannot remove the shower head.
The result is a more efficient shower, and if you do not stay in longer to enjoy the extra power of the jet, a quicker shower. Vinegar usually comes in a glass bottle which can be easily recycled. So no nasty chemicals going down the drain and no plastic container to dispose of.

2011-01-15T09:50:00.001-08:00

Mister Green says
All the small things! Climate change conferences will come and go. Cut emissions with draught proofing, secondary glazing, low energy lamps. visit us at
www.mistergreen.co.uk

Building Reulations for England and Wales

2010-10-20T10:11:00.000-07:00

New Building Regulations for England and Wales came into force on 1 October 2010. among the changes that affect home improvers are:

Part F Ventilation
Ventilation requirements have changed and the noise fans make should now be considered.

Part J Heat Producing Appliances

Special provisions for air vents will have to be made for well sealed houses and a carbon monoxide alarm is now required.

Part L Conservation of Fuel and Power

New insulation standards have come into force. Part L1b applies to alterations to existing residential buildings

2010-04-26T00:55:00.000-07:00

SUSTAINABLE REFURBISHMENT

There are 2 ways of going about energy efficient refurbs: scientific and intuitive. The science is usually done on larger scale developments or by larger organisations such as social housing providers or government agencies. So individuals do not have to get involved in much science. For example, studies show that 270mm is the optimum thickness for loft insulation, but the manufacturers are supplying this thickness and it is readily available at builders merchants and diy stores, so use the science sparingly

Consider how much premium you are prepared to pay for materials with sustainable credentials-locally sourced, low embedded energy, recycled or recyclable materials. For example again taking insulation, you can pay a premium to use natural, sustainable products such as sheep’s wool or recycled newsprint, or go for the industrial product.

Consider capital cost vs cost-in-use. Grants and feed in tariffs can skew the decisions.

Priorities: It may not be possible in a single dwelling to provide for all the energy needs on site, but increasing insulation and airtightness and installing diversity will reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Micro generation delivers energy from renewable sources, but also reduces dependence on centralised supply from the grid which is subject to market forces and sometimes political interference. Also consider whether you want to be an eco warrior or just have a comfy life!

Here’s the thing though: keep refurbishment measures as simple as possible: maximum insulation, attention to airtightness and controlled ventilation, together with straightforward heating equipment and easy-to-use controls, are the priority.

TEN THINGS TO CONSIDER:

DOUBLE GLAZING: double glazing units fitted into timber frames without proper attention to drainage and ventilation cannot be expected to last as long as they should. Locally made ‘joinery shop’ timber sashes do not usually have sufficient rebate depth. To have a reasonable life expectancy, sealed double glazed should be properly fitted in the appropriate frames, ventilated and drained.

LIGHTING: Use low energy lamps of course!. Choose LED fittings carefully-some have poor colour rendering; consider a sun tube on an internal landing to bring in free sunlight; consider switching lights separately so that you can mix and match lighting for different situations.

AIR TIGHTNESS AND VENTILATION: “Build tight-ventilate right”. In practice it is difficult to make an old property airtight. Extract moisture at source in kitchen and bathrooms; use humidistat to control bathroom ventilation; open a window to get rid of smells; heat recovery is not cost effective for small domestic situations. Extract fans with mag lev bearings do not make the noise conventional fans make when the bearings start to wear out.

INSULATION; Make sure electric cables are not buried under loft insulation. Insulated curtains increase comfort and reduce heat loss especially on large areas of north facing glazing. If you have slid external walls, it may not be possible to insulate them all, so insulate what you can.

RAINWATER HARVESTING: a full scale rainwater harvesting installation is probably not appropriate to a small refurbishment but water butts and diverters are cheap.

SOLAR AND MICRO-GENERATION: Solar thermal will almost certainly make sense. You may not have enough roof area in a small house to make photovoltaics worthwhile, but consider the new feed in tariffs. A multifuel stove will provide diversity and is a really nice thing to have! Combination solar and PV panels called PV-T are apparently more efficient . Wind power-check the Energy Saving Trust’s calculator of their website to see if it is feasible in your location.

HEATING If we apply high standards to refurbishment, we would have to be looking at space heating and domestic hot water from renewable sources. Solar thermal on its own could over provide hot water. Consider underfloor heating with a ground source heat pump or PV-Ts.

PORCH: reduce air changes when opening and closing external doors.

DRAUGHT PROOFING seal gaps in floorboards and skirtings and insulate suspended ground floors.

WATER SAVING: use aerating shower heads and taps

The Green Deal

2010-04-23T01:00:00.000-07:00

It is great news that which ever party wins the UK election on 6 May, green investment, jobs and products will be promoted.

But the vast majority of green initiatives use imported products. Using locally made products is good for the economy and good for the environment.
The government needs to be more active in directly investing in UK businesses that are part of the green economy. There are good things happening, like the investment by the Carbon Trust. of a £454k grant in LOMOX Ltd, a company poinering OLED (organic light emitting diodes).

But we need to see some direct investment in the lower end of the technological scale-developing and promoting established technologies. We need to create everyday jobs as well as thse in the rarified atmosphere of PHD's. We need to start metal bashing again!

Direct government investment in business has had a bad press in the UK. by the 1960's and 70's the UK was a basket case following years of nationalisation after the second world war. But just because it was done badly in the past does not mean that it has to be done badly now. Other governments seem to manage- the French government has a controlling interest in EDF which is the largest utility company in the world and supplies a large part of the UK with electricity and will control the UK's nuclear power. So a stratgic part of the UK energy supply will be controlled by a foreign government. The french government also has an interest in Renault, which has a stake in Nissan which is the largest employer in the north east of England; and Deutsche Bahn is about to take over british bus and train operator Arriva-who owns Deutsche Bahn?...the german government!

So if the french and german governments can do it , why not the british government?

Companies should be owned by those who have a long term interest in their future and that includes governments when there is a national or strategic interest at stake.

Light emitting wallpaper!

2010-03-29T05:43:00.001-07:00

View the Article: http://www.mistergreen.co.uk/news/lightemittingwallpaper-20.htm

A company developing ultra-efficient organic LED (OLED organic light emitting diodes) lighting technology has been awarded a £454k grant by the Carbon Trust. The OLED materials, being pioneered by LOMOX Ltd, have a wide variety of potential applications and when coated onto a film could be used to cover walls creating a light-emitting wallpaper which replaces the need for traditional light bulbs. As well as being flexible, OLED film will require a very low operating voltage (between 3 to 5 volts) so it can be powered by solar panels and batteries making it ideal for applications where mains power is not available such as roadside traffic warning signs. Lighting in buildings accounts for a sixth of total electricity use in the UK. The LOMOX OLED technology promises to be 2.5 times more efficient than standard energy saving bulbs. It has been estimated that, by replacing current lighting technologies, it could reduce annual global CO2 emissions by over 2,500,000 tonnes by 2020 and nearly 7,400,000 by 2050, equivalent to a quarter of the annual carbon emissions of Wales (or the annual emissions of Birmingham). The Welsh company aims to have the first lighting products using its technology available in 2012 and also plans to use the same technology to create more energy efficient television screens. Operating lifetime has traditionally been a problem with OLED technology, but LOMOX has found a way to achieve significantly longer lifetimes than fluorescent lamps. The technology will also be more efficient (producing 150 lumens/watt) as it only emits light along one axis. OLEDs can produce a more natural looking light than other forms of lighting.

Ask Mistergreen

2010-03-23T02:53:00.000-07:00

What have you been asking MisterGreen?

We have been looking at the questions you have been putting to Mistergreen.

The largest number-16% have been questions about glass and glazing: improving the thermal performance of windows with double glazing, secondary glazing and double glazing failures.
Second highest have been questions on lighting at 13%, questions such as “are uplighters more efficient than conventional lights” and “does low voltage lighting save electricity”. Surprisngly questions on rainwater harvesting such as “position of rainwater soakaways for a driveway” and “how much rainwater comes from a roof” at 8% has come slightly ahead of draughts and draught proofing at 7%. We have been asked “why does an extractor fan become noisier over time” (we hope that the blog on magnetic levitation helped with that one!) and how much energy does it take to deliver one litre of water to a house(we have been asked that twice! Can anybody help with that one?).

We hope that Mistergreen is helping you to find the answers to your questions on energy saving home improvement. We welcome your feedback and suggestions for improving the site. www.mistergreen.co.uk

windows scrappage scheme

2010-02-11T08:07:00.000-08:00

The Glass & Glazing Federation (GGF) has recently launched a petition to Downing Street to ask the government to introduce a National Window Scrappage Scheme. Under the proposed scheme it is hoped that householders will be encouraged to scrap their old poorly insulated windows in return for a £1,000 grant towards the installation costs of new, professionally installed, energy efficient ones. Consumer benefits would include the £1000 saving, a domestic cosmetic facelift, lower fuel bills and more energy efficient homes.
Energy Efficient Windows (EEWs) have a huge role to play in improving the thermal performance of the existing housing stock,” Nigel Rees, Chief Executive of the GGF, explained. “EEWs can reduce emissions by 10% from dwellings nationally and reduce national domestic energy expenditure by 10%.

Mister Green says “seems like a good idea as long as it is not hijacked by the big boys. It works for cars and boilers, why not windows?”

Paste the the link below into your browser to join the petition. Closing date 24 March 2010

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/windowscrappage/

2010-01-11T02:22:00.000-08:00

The Big Freeze

Every winter at some point, Britain grinds to a halt because of exceptionally severe weather conditions. The point is not the question of whether the conditions are exceptional but how we as individuals react to the disruption caused. Mostly, if the media are to be believed, we try to find someone to blame for our woes- the government has not done this or that, or local councils have not stockpiled enough salt for the roads. But the reality is that as individuals, we have failed to get our minds right. We expect to be able to drive from London to Sheffield in three hours in January because we can in June. We expect technology to make it happen. But here’s the thing- we have come to think of the UK climate as relatively benign. But it isn’t. These are not sporadic anomalies. In Siberia and Scandinavia it freezes in autumn and thaws in the spring- one freeze/thaw cycle. In the UK it may freeze and thaw dozens of times in a winter. This not only causes problems with transport. Frost damage to buildings and roads can be extensive. As individuals we need to adjust our behaviour and expectations. We expect to put on more clothes in the winter, but we don’t expect the roads to be blocked. Climate change may increase the frequency of extreme weather conditions, so stock up the larder, block up the draughts, fit more insulation………..

FEED-IN TARIFFS

2009-11-17T09:21:00.000-08:00

FEED-IN TARIFFS

QUESTION: Why are there more photo voltaic solar collectors (PV’s) in Munich than in Manchester?

Is it:
A) Because there is more sun in Munich than Manchester

Or
B) Because investing in photo voltaic panels in Munich will bring a guaranteed return on investment but in Manchester it will be a very expensive way to buy electricity

Answer…..B)

But from April 2010 the British government will be introducing feed-in tariffs for small scale photo voltaic, wind energy, hydropower, biomass and anaerobic digestion installations

What is a feed-in tariff?

A feed-in tariff is when a power company buys back surplus electricity generated in from renewable sources at a guaranteed price above market rates and the electricity is fed back into the grid. The buy back price is set above the grid cost and guaranteed for a number of years, usually 20 or 25 years. The ‘buy back’ price is set in relation to the cost of generation, so the buy back price for PV’s is higher than wind power because the installation cost of the former is higher. There is therefore a guaranteed return on the investment in the installation. The aim is to encourage investment in alternative, clean energy sources to cut down carbon emissions and reliance on fossil fuels.

But the cost of producing electricity from PV’s at present is far greater than from fossil fuel and greater than other forms of clean energy such as wind power. It is argued that the money could better be spent elsewhere

So how are feed-in tariffs financed?

The payment to the few with PV feed-in is financed by the power companies by a surcharge on the many who do not. But is this like the pensions problem….the larger the number of the ‘few’ who benefit from payments becomes….the smaller the number of the ‘many’ who pay!

The case against-
• a very expensive way to harness solar energy
• makes very little inroad into the government’s carbon emission targets

The case for-
:
• brings a lot more people into contact with green issues-it widens the debate.
• Stimulates investment in green businesses and creates jobs
• Develops expertise
• Has export potential
• Raises the UK profile in the green energy sector.
• Wider benefit to the economy. The panels themselves are likely to be mass produced in low cost base economies like China, but subsidies to encourage investment in green energy will encourage home grown industries and business and create jobs, benefitting the wider economy.
• There is the aim of reducing the cost of producing and installing PV panels so that there is ‘grid parity’- the point at which PV electricity is as cheap as that coming from conventional power stations

Germany has a huge number of PV installations-much larger than the UK. With volume comes lower cost and a growing reputation for Germany as a supplier and exporter of green technology.

There is a parallel with wind turbines-the UK has no manufacturers of wind turbines-they are imported from Denmark. Why? Is it A) because they have more wind or B) Because the Danish government has supported the installation of wind turbines with feed-in tariffs? Answer B)

The British government proposes to limit feed-in tariffs to small scale installations and retain the requirement for the incorporation of renewable energy contributions in larger schemes, so the proposals will have limited effect on overall carbon reduction. But as a measure to stimulate the home market in renewables and hopefully develop exports then subsidies in the form of feed-in tariffs is very cost effective…and good news for UK Plc.

2009-11-12T01:39:00.000-08:00

Magnetic Levitation in the bathroom!

Noisy extract fans in bathrooms are a nuisance! Typically fans are controlled by the lighting circuit with an over-run after the light is switched off. The purpose of the extract fan is to remove smell and to lower humidity.
But over time the fan can become noisy. Extract fans offered by RHL of Reading England use magnetic levitation technology to eliminate contact between the fan shaft and the bearing and longer life and less noise are claimed see www.rhldirect.com

Removing humidity at source is the key to reducing condensation. Changing a bathroom extract from an over-run control to a humidistat controlled fan where a sensor detects the humidity level and runs the fan only until the humidity is reduced to acceptable levels will be more efficient in controlling moisture and save energy

2009-11-12T01:24:00.000-08:00

Fixing Draughty Floors

We found a floor that had been sanded and varnished, but with the gaps between the boards left unfilled. In most UK houses with timber ground floors, the space under the floor is (or should be) ventilated to the cold outside air. It is surprising how the area of the narrow gaps between the boards adds up. In a typical room of say 25 square metres, each gap of 2mm between boards would be equivalent to an open letter box!

Unfilled joint on the left.Filled joint on the right

Ideally, gaps should be filled when the floor is sanded, using a binder mixed with the left-over sanding dust, but it can be done later after the floor has been varnished, although it is very time consuming. Go to a local joinery shop and ask for some sanding dust. You will need about a supermarket plastic bag full for a 25m2 room. You might get the dust for nothing or for a small charge. We used Bona Kemi Mix and Fill for the binder, because it is water based and easy to work with. Mix a small quantity (put the liquid in first and add the dust) and mix to the consistency of porridge. Work it into the joints with a paint scraper.

When put in during initial floor sanding the joints are usually over-filled and sanded back level. When doing it later, the gap filler will shrink back slightly, but this maintains the definition of the board joints and gives a pleasing effect. If there is a significant gap between the skirting and the floorboards, this can be covered with a timber quadrant bead or scotia moulding, either painted to match the skirting or stained to match the floor - tip: paint or stain it first before fixing.

The whole floor then needs a light sanding and re-varnishing. An easy DIY job for autumn and a very cost effective energy saving home improvement.

Welcome to my Blog

2009-11-10T00:32:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Blog of Mister Green Limited - the place for Energy Saving Home Improvement Advice.

Keep visiting our blog for important news and energy saving advice.