Reducing carbon emissions

This recent report makes for depressing reading:

https://bylinetimes.com/2021/10/20/...renewables-warn-french-government-scientists/

Brief summary: as oil becomes more difficult to extract, it's taking more and more energy to get it out of the ground, and therefore becomes less and less economic to produce. Within 15 years, the oil industry will begin to collapse because nobody will be able to afford to buy their product. The same is happening to natural gas, albeit somewhat more slowly.

Good thing, you might conclude. But the problem is that this could happen so fast that we end up in a world with limited energy supply and, as a result, no ability to build renewable replacements.

Ironically, this could mean that the global economy collapses before the climate apocalypse happens.
That a very informative and thought provoking article.
 
This recent report makes for depressing reading:

https://bylinetimes.com/2021/10/20/...renewables-warn-french-government-scientists/

Brief summary: as oil becomes more difficult to extract, it's taking more and more energy to get it out of the ground, and therefore becomes less and less economic to produce. Within 15 years, the oil industry will begin to collapse because nobody will be able to afford to buy their product. The same is happening to natural gas, albeit somewhat more slowly.

Good thing, you might conclude. But the problem is that this could happen so fast that we end up in a world with limited energy supply and, as a result, no ability to build renewable replacements.

Ironically, this could mean that the global economy collapses before the climate apocalypse happens.
Or that sensible authorities recognise the problem and accelerate the development of alternatives!

Certainly adds to the incentive to develop those alternatives! Hopefully, that article can be taken up by better recognised media (it's little more than a group blog with a fancy front) and convince some of those who are in positions to act to avert the perceived 'armageddon'!
 
They may well have done…however anyone with a brain now listening to the discussions on heat pumps to replace gas boilers, and now understanding that house insulation must come first - will realise that that their intent of drawing public attention to the criticality and urgency of the insulation pre-requisite through disruption was actually valid, even if the means was so very disruptive; that especially being the case given that the long term impact of the road protests is for the vast majority of us not lasting in any significant way if at all, yet the urgency for us all is great. We are now fully aware if we so choose to become so.

But of course I fully accept that the inconvenience and impact for a few may have been significant, and that is very unfortunate. I would hope that Insulate Britain understand that they have made their point and that that point is now widely understood, and so do not need to resume their road protests.

So you consider that the disruption was valid, do you?
That they have educated people and changed minds, do you think?

Are you choosing not to think about the instances where their actions have impacted lives. Critical appointments missed, the consequences of which are unknown to us, but may have been devastating to the impacted's futures.
Reports of a stroke victim now paralysed because of delay getting to hospital, dialysis missed. I don't know if these are true reports or not, but I can imagine ( unlike you, seemingly), that there were many very serious consequences of their actions that we won't hear about ( not newsworthy).

How many of us did not know beforehand about these serious climate issues?

How many of us would decline to have these heaters fitted, if it were practical for us.? ( many on here have pointed out some serious obstacles, one or more of which will make it a non starter for most)
And how many of the disrupters went home and ordered these heaters, notwithstanding the problems we have since been familiarised with?

They were out of order in what they did. It was just too much disregard for others , innocent others, safety and wellbeing, and therefore not to be praised in the slightest.
 
We built our house 3 years ago. Plumbing including ground source cost ~33k. About 4k more than it would have been to put in an oil system. Rhi payments over 7 years basically pays for the system. Electric bill is around 150pm. Still have a wood burner and gas hob for power cuts so we still have some heating/cooking source.
 
[QUOTE="Swinglowandslow, post: 2413163, member: 25384"
And how many of the disrupters went home and ordered these heaters, notwithstanding the problems we have since been familiarised with?
[/QUOTE]

Two of their spokespeople have been outed during interviews as having appalling energy efficiency ratings for their own homes!

One issue associated with adding insulation in cavity walls to existing constructions is the potential to cause internal damp. Much as I find the idea of increasing insulation attractive, I'd need definitive proof that it wouldn't cause more problems than it solved.
 
[QUOTE="Swinglowandslow, post: 2413163, member: 25384"
And how many of the disrupters went home and ordered these heaters, notwithstanding the problems we have since been familiarised with?

Two of their spokespeople have been outed during interviews as having appalling energy efficiency ratings for their own homes!

One issue associated with adding insulation in cavity walls to existing constructions is the potential to cause internal damp. Much as I find the idea of increasing insulation attractive, I'd need definitive proof that it wouldn't cause more problems than it solved.[/QUOTE]

Yes, that is a concern. Cavity wall insulation is a gamble. No guarantee is given that damp will not result , and AFAIK, once done it cannot be undone?
 
Yes, that is a concern. Cavity wall insulation is a gamble. No guarantee is given that damp will not result , and AFAIK, once done it cannot be undone?

I believe if it is the polybeads they can potentially be sucked out with an industrial vacuum, (basically reversing the installation) but if it is foam I believe you're stuck with it.
 
My house was built in 1921, and whilst it has cavity walls, when I enquired about having cavity wall insulation the survey revealed my damp course is too low to allow cavity insulation without bringing damp into the property.
Rather than banning the replacement of existing gas boilers for heat pumps, they could have legislated that all new builds be heat pump with the necessary insulation levels from the word go.
That would have been a sensible way forward which in time would have lead to many older houses going to heat pump themselves.
But hey, what do I know:)
 
My house was built in 1921, and whilst it has cavity walls, when I enquired about having cavity wall insulation the survey revealed my damp course is too low to allow cavity insulation without bringing damp into the property.
Rather than banning the replacement of existing gas boilers for heat pumps, they could have legislated that all new builds be heat pump with the necessary insulation levels from the word go.
That would have been a sensible way forward which in time would have lead to many older houses going to heat pump themselves.
But hey, what do I know:)

Fully agree, subsidising retrofitting whilst not legislating for new builds seems to me to be the very definition of madness. It would make more sense to subsidise improved insulation and heat pumps in new builds than to invest in retrofits with the inevitable additional expense entailed. Or am I missing something?
 
Fully agree, subsidising retrofitting whilst not legislating for new builds seems to me to be the very definition of madness. It would make more sense to subsidise improved insulation and heat pumps in new builds than to invest in retrofits with the inevitable additional expense entailed. Or am I missing something?
 
my dream is heat pump
batteries on house (50kw would do)

solar

then I could run my house without relaying on the grid too much..
In my most recent YouTube spiral I came across home batteries for the 1st time. Tesla Powerwall as a starter, then to more reasonable products ;-)
But trying to google solar pannels seems to be a minefield. How would one find a reasonable source/installer for that? Batteries seem easy compared to that. The main battery issue seems to be a suitable space in a house without garage. Some systems are hallway pretty, some are garage ugly.

We have a our 8m long south(ish) facing roof available, so it could be a goer if it makes some sense. We use about 12 kWh a day on average over the last 12 months, not too much variety.
 
Solar panels have been the best investment I have ever had. If you are having them fitted, I would get a couple or three companies in. Re what it will produce, bottom line it’s down to the quality of panels you have. When I had mine fitted, the expected return was not down to the company’s figures but it depended on the panels, angle of the roof and the position they were facing. Mine are south facing and as good as you can get. Every company should give you the same return figures based on that.The only thing different would then be the installation costs.
I was tipped off a good few years ago about batteries being the future, but was advised not to buy them 4 or 5 years ago as battery technology would kick on and costs would reduce. Am not to sure the latter has happened. My biggest problem is finding a specialist company that A, would install batteries and B, as you mention where to stick it.
 
I spoke to a fitter last week who suggested to wait till next year for the solar panels as there are rumours of a new feed in tariff or government incentive
 
In my most recent YouTube spiral I came across home batteries for the 1st time. Tesla Powerwall as a starter, then to more reasonable products ;-)
But trying to google solar pannels seems to be a minefield. How would one find a reasonable source/installer for that? Batteries seem easy compared to that. The main battery issue seems to be a suitable space in a house without garage. Some systems are hallway pretty, some are garage ugly.

We have a our 8m long south(ish) facing roof available, so it could be a goer if it makes some sense. We use about 12 kWh a day on average over the last 12 months, not too much variety.

Wouldn't know where to start but I know the wife said no to them because "their ugly" ok babe ... Sod the planet

So doing what I can

inCollage_20211108_062701024.jpg
Switched the dishwasher and washing machine to this smol company as you can see above (9 day trail ATM) I've done some carbon saving .. (plus other bits)

Meat free days with the food

If the majority of people made a few switches would make a huge difference
 
In an ideal world with unlimited funds it would be solar roof tiles, available from others as well as Tesla. Looks more or less the same as a normal roof.
 
Wouldn't know where to start but I know the wife said no to them because "their ugly" ok babe ... Sod the planet

So doing what I can

View attachment 39399
Switched the dishwasher and washing machine to this smol company as you can see above (9 day trail ATM) I've done some carbon saving .. (plus other bits)

Meat free days with the food

If the majority of people made a few switches would make a huge difference
We have been using SMOL for a while now. They clean just as well as the regular products, there is no compromise involved (y)
 
We have been using SMOL for a while now. They clean just as well as the regular products, there is no compromise involved (y)

I just stumbled accross them on insta and thought give a go

Biggest stumbling block is the wife lol she was apprehensive about the change for washing only for the smell as she likes what we use (Surf tropical lily) but one wash she smelt and goes oh no I like that

So the change is made

And the dishwasher ones have been as good so like you say no compromise
 
I really wonder if people know whats involved here. Some useful info. An entire human life in the western world produces the same carbon as around 1 second of global energy production. Think how many seconds of energy production reducing your carbon footprint by tenths of a percent once your in your 50's does.

The carbon cost of the entire life of a car, from raw material to disposal of scrap, is equivalent to the carbon used laying 6 feet of road. Think how many road works are currently ongoing in UK. How many roads need laid in africa?!

Many entire countries, Australia for example, most of the middle east, have economy's entirely based on fossil fuel. Should coal be illegal tomorrow, Australia is instantly a 3rd world country, with no healthcare, welfare, infrastructure maintenance only education available must be funded privately. If the Aussie PM did that do you think the population would cheer and vote them back in. Or would there be a military coup tomorrow morning and coal back on ships by tomorrow lunchtime...

If we're planning on making a significant difference, pouring plastic between your bricks is so far down the list of priorities as to be laughable.

If we do what it looks like we must, then the modern lifestyle is 100% unsustainable. Thats why nobody does anything about it, its such a huge change governments cant even begin to recommend it.

And no, I dont have any answers.
 
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If we stop burning stuff, that would help.
Of course it's not going to stop overnight, but we have to start somewhere.
Or we could just say it's not my problem and leave it for future generations to sort out.

Australia is a good example of improvement...

''In 2020, 24% of Australia’s total electricity generation was from renewable energy sources, including solar (9%), wind (9%) and hydro (6%). ''
 
Australia is a good example, they are still the worlds second largest exporter of coal with 70% of the coal they dig being exported.

So even if they are using wind, solar and hydro, they're digging and transporting as much coal as ever. The fact they're letting someone else burn it is immaterial to climate change.
 
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