NPR

TB63 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 07, 2022 9:33 am Who's stocking up on candles then?..

TB63 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 07, 2022 9:33 am Who's stocking up on candles then?..

TB63 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 07, 2022 9:33 am Who's stocking up on candles then?..

Raggs wrote: ↑Wed Oct 05, 2022 9:50 pm

Blackmac wrote: ↑Wed Oct 05, 2022 9:26 pm

Biffer wrote: ↑Wed Oct 05, 2022 7:55 am If I can put my holier than thou environmental hat on for a minute, a lot of this is what everyone should have been doing anyway to reduce their carbon footprint. They just couldn't be bothered and would rather let the planet go to shit.

Have to agree. I recycle like fuck and do everything else I can but I would have thought nothing about filling the kettle to full to make one cup of coffee or have loads of unnecessary lights on all over the house.

It really riles me when I see someone fill a kettle for a single cup of tea/coffee. Just one of those little things that irritates as you get older. I know I do things that aren't environmentally friendly too though, mostly leaving my computer on. Though at the moment, that's usually during the day when it's covered by the solar panels anyway. But that energy could be doing good elsewhere (even if we're getting paid a pittance for it).

Slick wrote: ↑Fri Oct 07, 2022 9:45 am

TB63 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 07, 2022 9:33 am Who's stocking up on candles then?..

We have bought absolutely shitloads from IKEA! Kids love it in the evening and all (most) of the lights are off.

vball wrote: ↑Fri Oct 07, 2022 2:29 pm Re the kettle filling piece .... we have a motorhome and one of things we do is boil a whole kettle and fill a flask. This means when we are out on the road, when we stop, we do not need to turn the gas on and off again.
We also usually only have 1 hot meal per day.

a7kg gas cannister lasts us for many years,

shaggy wrote: ↑Sat Oct 08, 2022 9:28 am

vball wrote: ↑Fri Oct 07, 2022 2:29 pm Re the kettle filling piece .... we have a motorhome and one of things we do is boil a whole kettle and fill a flask. This means when we are out on the road, when we stop, we do not need to turn the gas on and off again.
We also usually only have 1 hot meal per day.

a7kg gas cannister lasts us for many years,

The fact that most people have only just started taking notice to insulation and minimising energy waste when it hits their pocket shows that the climate emergency is just not that important to them.

Must be very frustrating that all the action taken by special interest groups disrupting various things is utterly irrelevant as the general public just don’t see it as a priority for legislation or government support until they can’t afford their summer holiday next year or a new car.

Slick wrote: ↑Sat Oct 08, 2022 9:32 am

shaggy wrote: ↑Sat Oct 08, 2022 9:28 am

vball wrote: ↑Fri Oct 07, 2022 2:29 pm Re the kettle filling piece .... we have a motorhome and one of things we do is boil a whole kettle and fill a flask. This means when we are out on the road, when we stop, we do not need to turn the gas on and off again.
We also usually only have 1 hot meal per day.

a7kg gas cannister lasts us for many years,

The fact that most people have only just started taking notice to insulation and minimising energy waste when it hits their pocket shows that the climate emergency is just not that important to them.

Must be very frustrating that all the action taken by special interest groups disrupting various things is utterly irrelevant as the general public just don’t see it as a priority for legislation or government support until they can’t afford their summer holiday next year or a new car.

Sadly true, the vast, vast majority don’t give a shit

C69 wrote: ↑Sun Oct 09, 2022 9:52 am

Slick wrote: ↑Sat Oct 08, 2022 9:32 am

shaggy wrote: ↑Sat Oct 08, 2022 9:28 am

The fact that most people have only just started taking notice to insulation and minimising energy waste when it hits their pocket shows that the climate emergency is just not that important to them.

Must be very frustrating that all the action taken by special interest groups disrupting various things is utterly irrelevant as the general public just don’t see it as a priority for legislation or government support until they can’t afford their summer holiday next year or a new car.

Sadly true, the vast, vast majority don’t give a shit

Cavity wall insulation was the best measure I have taken, the loft is also fully insulated.I have now replaced my oldboilerof 15 years and installed a new condesnsing boiler with a functioning thermostat. Previously just blasted the heat out by turning the boiler up
The cavity wall insulation was an immediate help and has kept the house warmand comfy.
I do regret having to replace all the old sash windows and when we moved in but they were basically letting all the heat out and double glazing was a must.
I don't really think I can do much more tbh. That said atm it's 17 centigrade so it's too hot for heating or lighting one of the multi fuel stoves.
Fingers crossed for a mild winter.
The electric underfloor heating in the Conservatory willnow be on to maintain a constant 21 degrees until next spring. I hate to think how much that costs but hey ho.

lemonhead wrote: ↑Sun Oct 09, 2022 9:13 pm

C69 wrote: ↑Sun Oct 09, 2022 9:52 am

Slick wrote: ↑Sat Oct 08, 2022 9:32 am

Sadly true, the vast, vast majority don’t give a shit

Cavity wall insulation was the best measure I have taken, the loft is also fully insulated.I have now replaced my oldboilerof 15 years and installed a new condesnsing boiler with a functioning thermostat. Previously just blasted the heat out by turning the boiler up
The cavity wall insulation was an immediate help and has kept the house warmand comfy.
I do regret having to replace all the old sash windows and when we moved in but they were basically letting all the heat out and double glazing was a must.
I don't really think I can do much more tbh. That said atm it's 17 centigrade so it's too hot for heating or lighting one of the multi fuel stoves.
Fingers crossed for a mild winter.
The electric underfloor heating in the Conservatory willnow be on to maintain a constant 21 degrees until next spring. I hate to think how much that costs but hey ho.

Literally made all the difference for us.

Just about scraped on to the ECO4 scheme which should be front and centre to any government plans not to piss money up the wall (but no doubt involved too many handouts of mini white polystyrene balls). Genuinely feels like a new house.

TB63 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 10, 2022 8:06 amWhat's the build?

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Mon Oct 10, 2022 8:04 am Any advice on cheap (ish) ways to better insulate a house? Ours loses heat through certain rooms alarmingly quickly.

shaggy wrote: ↑Sat Oct 08, 2022 9:28 am

vball wrote: ↑Fri Oct 07, 2022 2:29 pm Re the kettle filling piece .... we have a motorhome and one of things we do is boil a whole kettle and fill a flask. This means when we are out on the road, when we stop, we do not need to turn the gas on and off again.
We also usually only have 1 hot meal per day.

a7kg gas cannister lasts us for many years,

The fact that most people have only just started taking notice to insulation and minimising energy waste when it hits their pocket shows that the climate emergency is just not that important to them.

Must be very frustrating that all the action taken by special interest groups disrupting various things is utterly irrelevant as the general public just don’t see it as a priority for legislation or government support until they can’t afford their summer holiday next year or a new car.

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Mon Oct 10, 2022 8:07 am

TB63 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 10, 2022 8:06 amWhat's the build?

Brick with pebbledash, 1930s

inactionman wrote: ↑Mon Oct 10, 2022 9:27 am

shaggy wrote: ↑Sat Oct 08, 2022 9:28 am

vball wrote: ↑Fri Oct 07, 2022 2:29 pm Re the kettle filling piece .... we have a motorhome and one of things we do is boil a whole kettle and fill a flask. This means when we are out on the road, when we stop, we do not need to turn the gas on and off again.
We also usually only have 1 hot meal per day.

a7kg gas cannister lasts us for many years,

The fact that most people have only just started taking notice to insulation and minimising energy waste when it hits their pocket shows that the climate emergency is just not that important to them.

Must be very frustrating that all the action taken by special interest groups disrupting various things is utterly irrelevant as the general public just don’t see it as a priority for legislation or government support until they can’t afford their summer holiday next year or a new car.

I'm hoping this mini-shock does serve as the necessary kick up the pants for a lot of people, but it's worth bearing in mind that improving energy efficiency is a lot easer said than done in many homes.

In our old and our current house we would need to strip all the interiors out to fit insulation beneath the plasterboard for the external facing walls - they are all solid wall, early 1800s builds - and it's just not viable in any short term to do this. The current fuel price hikes will just shift the dial on many people's test of reasonableness and in terms of what costs and pain they'll incur.

In the current house we're going to have to cut into our eaves to insulate, unless we can get in via the roof which has its own problems, and this is going to cost a fortune which is all on top of other changes we'll need. We're also going to need to double-glaze the copola, replace the front door, replace a number of older windows. Essentially we've inherited an energy efficiency mess - we chose to buy the house so it's on us - and it's going to take a long, long time to sort.

Of course many of the easier measures such as insulating accessible loft spaces, decent curtains etc should be no-brainers, but the really substantial changes can't be done overnight.

Slick wrote: ↑Mon Oct 10, 2022 9:56 am Feeling a bit smug that we moved from an old draughty flat to a 10 year old place a couple of months back. Can't quite believe the difference in terms of insulation etc. We usually have the back door open all day and into the night, but it got a bit chilly yesterday evening so shut them early and within a few minutes the place was feeling comfortable, we would have needed heating and couple of hours in the old place

petej wrote: ↑Mon Oct 10, 2022 10:02 am

inactionman wrote: ↑Mon Oct 10, 2022 9:27 am

shaggy wrote: ↑Sat Oct 08, 2022 9:28 am

The fact that most people have only just started taking notice to insulation and minimising energy waste when it hits their pocket shows that the climate emergency is just not that important to them.

Must be very frustrating that all the action taken by special interest groups disrupting various things is utterly irrelevant as the general public just don’t see it as a priority for legislation or government support until they can’t afford their summer holiday next year or a new car.

I'm hoping this mini-shock does serve as the necessary kick up the pants for a lot of people, but it's worth bearing in mind that improving energy efficiency is a lot easer said than done in many homes.

In our old and our current house we would need to strip all the interiors out to fit insulation beneath the plasterboard for the external facing walls - they are all solid wall, early 1800s builds - and it's just not viable in any short term to do this. The current fuel price hikes will just shift the dial on many people's test of reasonableness and in terms of what costs and pain they'll incur.

In the current house we're going to have to cut into our eaves to insulate, unless we can get in via the roof which has its own problems, and this is going to cost a fortune which is all on top of other changes we'll need. We're also going to need to double-glaze the copola, replace the front door, replace a number of older windows. Essentially we've inherited an energy efficiency mess - we chose to buy the house so it's on us - and it's going to take a long, long time to sort.

Of course many of the easier measures such as insulating accessible loft spaces, decent curtains etc should be no-brainers, but the really substantial changes can't be done overnight.

A massive number of people won't have done the easier measures you state so the campaign despite nannying would have been worth it. Both my retired neighbours are classic examples- new large petrol cars with big engines in the last year or so but no upgrades for energy efficiency or generation.

tabascoboy wrote: ↑Mon Oct 10, 2022 10:33 am One thing I need to do is replace old external doors at some point. Especially the front door which is north-facing and therefore gets the full power of cold winds, though I've done my best to draughtproof it has only a single glazed window on which I add a film over the winter FWIW. Any recommendations for the door material? Is composite better for insulation than wood? Hard to get advice from sellers as they obviously suggest the most expensive option...there are no conservation issues to consider.

inactionman wrote: ↑Mon Oct 10, 2022 10:41 am

tabascoboy wrote: ↑Mon Oct 10, 2022 10:33 am One thing I need to do is replace old external doors at some point. Especially the front door which is north-facing and therefore gets the full power of cold winds, though I've done my best to draughtproof it has only a single glazed window on which I add a film over the winter FWIW. Any recommendations for the door material? Is composite better for insulation than wood? Hard to get advice from sellers as they obviously suggest the most expensive option...there are no conservation issues to consider.

We're also looking into this, which I mention just to remind me to keep an eye on any response you get!

The previous owners have really done a number on the door, they got rid of the threshold to get stepless access and have - for reasons that utterly escape me - have fitted a upvc-style locking mechanism around the edges of what was previously a lovely old town-house style door. It's not any more secure, the handle if so far over we scrape knuckles on the frame, and it looks appalling.

We're lucky to have our front door opening into a small hall/boot room, and we've a large single pane door between the porch and the main hall - fitting a full length curtain over this single pane door has killed any remaining drafts and it's definitely a lot warmer because of it. Daft question, have you tried a curtain? (only realistically works if you're in the house, of course)

TB63 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 10, 2022 10:46 am Modern UPVC external doors are double glazed with a sandwich of closed cell insulation inside. Good thermal barrier..

tabascoboy wrote: ↑Mon Oct 10, 2022 10:59 am

TB63 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 10, 2022 10:46 am Modern UPVC external doors are double glazed with a sandwich of closed cell insulation inside. Good thermal barrier..

I see they talk about u values and the lower the better, but never give any actual examples

TB63 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 10, 2022 11:04 am

tabascoboy wrote: ↑Mon Oct 10, 2022 10:59 am

TB63 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 10, 2022 10:46 am Modern UPVC external doors are double glazed with a sandwich of closed cell insulation inside. Good thermal barrier..

I see they talk about u values and the lower the better, but never give any actual examples

Quick search shows that any new door must have a minimum u value of 1.6..

inactionman wrote: ↑Mon Oct 10, 2022 12:54 pm I've also just looked at our mortgage, fixed rate ending in 3 months and best current deal is another £500 a month. Great. Afraid that's no energy efficiency improvements for 2 years.

Raggs wrote: ↑Mon Oct 10, 2022 4:14 pm

inactionman wrote: ↑Mon Oct 10, 2022 12:54 pm I've also just looked at our mortgage, fixed rate ending in 3 months and best current deal is another £500 a month. Great. Afraid that's no energy efficiency improvements for 2 years.

Jesus mate, that's harsh. Just checked ours, it'd be an extra £600 a month. Feeling extremely lucky that it's a relatively new 5 year fix (still more than 4 years to go), that extra expense, along with energy costs, would really make things very hard.

inactionman wrote: ↑Mon Oct 10, 2022 4:19 pm

Raggs wrote: ↑Mon Oct 10, 2022 4:14 pm

inactionman wrote: ↑Mon Oct 10, 2022 12:54 pm I've also just looked at our mortgage, fixed rate ending in 3 months and best current deal is another £500 a month. Great. Afraid that's no energy efficiency improvements for 2 years.

Jesus mate, that's harsh. Just checked ours, it'd be an extra £600 a month. Feeling extremely lucky that it's a relatively new 5 year fix (still more than 4 years to go), that extra expense, along with energy costs, would really make things very hard.

We could only get a 2 year fixed when we moved, and in any case our mortgage advisor was confident that the rates wouldn't move much in that time. He obviously couldn't predict Vlad going mad, or some set of lunatics giving Liz and Kwasi the keys to the treasury.

General consensus is that it'll settle down the back end of next year when inflation's a bit more controlled, so we'll probably go for a 2 year fixed again and then re-fix when it's les mental. It's all guesswork and supposition, who can predict what'll happen next.

We can just about service it, but we'll need to park some of the renovations for a few years which is a bit galling.

Slick wrote: ↑Mon Oct 10, 2022 4:22 pm

inactionman wrote: ↑Mon Oct 10, 2022 4:19 pm

Raggs wrote: ↑Mon Oct 10, 2022 4:14 pm

Jesus mate, that's harsh. Just checked ours, it'd be an extra £600 a month. Feeling extremely lucky that it's a relatively new 5 year fix (still more than 4 years to go), that extra expense, along with energy costs, would really make things very hard.

We could only get a 2 year fixed when we moved, and in any case our mortgage advisor was confident that the rates wouldn't move much in that time. He obviously couldn't predict Vlad going mad, or some set of lunatics giving Liz and Kwasi the keys to the treasury.

General consensus is that it'll settle down the back end of next year when inflation's a bit more controlled, so we'll probably go for a 2 year fixed again and then re-fix when it's les mental. It's all guesswork and supposition, who can predict what'll happen next.

We can just about service it, but we'll need to park some of the renovations for a few years which is a bit galling.

We got our first mortgage 3 months ago on a 3 year fixed. If we applied now we wouldn't have a hope of getting one and if it wasn't fixed we would be in a spot of bother. Got a bit lucky. A lot changes in 3 months apparently.

inactionman wrote: ↑Mon Oct 10, 2022 4:49 pm

Slick wrote: ↑Mon Oct 10, 2022 4:22 pm

inactionman wrote: ↑Mon Oct 10, 2022 4:19 pm

We could only get a 2 year fixed when we moved, and in any case our mortgage advisor was confident that the rates wouldn't move much in that time. He obviously couldn't predict Vlad going mad, or some set of lunatics giving Liz and Kwasi the keys to the treasury.

General consensus is that it'll settle down the back end of next year when inflation's a bit more controlled, so we'll probably go for a 2 year fixed again and then re-fix when it's les mental. It's all guesswork and supposition, who can predict what'll happen next.

We can just about service it, but we'll need to park some of the renovations for a few years which is a bit galling.

We got our first mortgage 3 months ago on a 3 year fixed. If we applied now we wouldn't have a hope of getting one and if it wasn't fixed we would be in a spot of bother. Got a bit lucky. A lot changes in 3 months apparently.

It's gone south a lot more quickly than I'd have thought. The way I'm consoling myself is that we've had a good few years of dirt-chap mortgages and we're a bit closer to normalcy - but annoying nonetheless.

(I caught you'd moved earlier in thread, you still Stockbridge way?)

Slick wrote: ↑Tue Oct 11, 2022 8:30 am

inactionman wrote: ↑Mon Oct 10, 2022 4:49 pm

Slick wrote: ↑Mon Oct 10, 2022 4:22 pm

We got our first mortgage 3 months ago on a 3 year fixed. If we applied now we wouldn't have a hope of getting one and if it wasn't fixed we would be in a spot of bother. Got a bit lucky. A lot changes in 3 months apparently.

It's gone south a lot more quickly than I'd have thought. The way I'm consoling myself is that we've had a good few years of dirt-chap mortgages and we're a bit closer to normalcy - but annoying nonetheless.

(I caught you'd moved earlier in thread, you still Stockbridge way?)

Moved to Portobello, have to say we are all loving it.

inactionman wrote: ↑Tue Oct 11, 2022 8:37 am

Slick wrote: ↑Tue Oct 11, 2022 8:30 am

inactionman wrote: ↑Mon Oct 10, 2022 4:49 pm

It's gone south a lot more quickly than I'd have thought. The way I'm consoling myself is that we've had a good few years of dirt-chap mortgages and we're a bit closer to normalcy - but annoying nonetheless.

(I caught you'd moved earlier in thread, you still Stockbridge way?)

Moved to Portobello, have to say we are all loving it.

Nice - we had a look there when we moved 2 years back but nothing in our price range. The front at weekends is just a nice place to be.

We're down there a fair old bit, took the kids for lunch in the espy and marvelled at the awesome kiddie menu