Buyer Beware :: Solar panel selling scam

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An interesting article on the danger of listening to sales people who are probably very commission driven and not necesarily regulated very efficiently (by the goverment, their industry or their firm).

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/06/24/solar_misselling/

Solar panel selling scam shown up by sting

Solar panel sales cowboys are – surprise! – exaggerating the benefits of the energy technology, a sting operation by consumer magazine Which? has found.

Which? invited 12 solar companies to survey a house and produce cost and benefit estimates for a solar PV system. Seven out of the 12 recommended putting the panels in the shade, and some overestimated the benefits by thousands of pounds.

“It seems extraordinary that the Government’s rules require companies to ignore whether you live in Cornwall or Scotland when working out how long it’ll take to pay for the solar panels,” says Which? executive director Richard Lloyd. “It’s obvious that the more sun you get, the faster the payback. The Government has to put this right.”

Evidence of pressure selling was also unearthed.

The generous feed-in tariff (FIT) – whereby the taxpayers subsidises the ‘surplus’ electricity for a domestic solar installation by paying several times over the market price – has seen a rush of middle-class households seeking to install solar PV units. For the well-off who can afford one, it’s printing money; and has been condemned as a regressive wealth redistribution by some prominent Greens. Sort of like Robin Hood in reverse.

Strangely Which? ignores this aspect.

Solar panel selling scam

On Wednesday the Energy and Climate Change department DECC published its microgeneration strategy. It’s become a political flagship for the Conservatives, as this passage notes:

Such projects can engage individuals, neighbourhoods and communities in becoming involved with generating local heat and power. This offers a powerful symbol of the move from centralism to local action – the ‘Big Society’ in the UK’s energy landscape.Power to the people? They probably believe it, too.

Proposed housing development off Tregundy Lane

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Came across this article about the proposed development off Tregundy Lane, which would be behind Silver Spray on Droskyn Point.

http://www.southwestbusiness.co.uk/homepagetest/worms-topple-bid-39-homes/article-3670297-detail/article.html

Will worms topple bid for 39 homes?
Thursday, June 23, 2011, 09:00

PLANS to build 39 homes on farmland in Perranporth have sparked complaints from conservationists and residents, who are calling for it to be declared a site of special scientific interest (SSSI).

A colony of about 77 slow worms has been found on the five-acre site off Tregundy Lane along with
numerous birds and other protected species.

And 226 residents living near the proposed development are submitting a petition calling for the application to be rejected and the proposed estate, which includes 26 affordable homes,
moved to a different location.

Giving its initial response to the outline planning submission by Tescan Ltd, Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s deputy conservation manager, Cheryl Marriot, said the site was likely to qualify as a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) priority habitat.

In a letter to Cornwall Council’s planners stating the trust was likely to object to the application, she said:

“…it is likely this site will suffer an overall negative impact post-development due to the loss of BAP habitats and the impact upon slow worms”.

Father of four Robert Pearson, who has lived on Droksyn Way for 12 years, said the development sits next to an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) where there are 90 species of butterflies and moths.

He said: “People want affordable houses but these are likely to be too expensive. There is massive opposition to the scheme which borders the heritage coast.

“I have contacted several wildlife groups. We want the area to remain unspoilt. It hasn’t been touched for more than 20 years and is a beautiful site which we want to protect and get declared an SSSI.”

He has written to Minister for Climate Change, Biodiversity and Waste Joan Ruddock asking for her support.

To offset the environmental impact, independent ecological consultants, commissioned by Tescan Ltd, said the slow worms could be relocated, which would take up to 90 visits to an alternative location.

A wildlife reserve would also be maintained at the site and bird and bat boxes placed on the new homes.

Up to 187m of new Cornish hedgerows would also be created.

Councillor Ken Yoe said the plans were still at the early stage and it was important to balance the needs of those wanting affordable homes and the environmental impact.

He said concerns had also been raised regarding the access along Cliff Hill.

There are about 130 people in the resort, he added, on the register for local affordable housing.

The predicted rise of solar

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A list of predictions that argue the dramatic rise of solar power over the next 5 to 50 years.
– http://www.fastcompany.com/1760900/five-energy-predictions-for-the-future?partner=rss

  • Solar Energy Will Be More Economical Than Fossil Fuels In 10 Years
    – but only if the solar industry continues to rapidly improve solar cell efficiency and create economies of scale
  • Solar Power Will Be As Cheap As Coal in Two Years
    – But what of our natural  gas glut? Will that slow solar development?
  • Natural Gas Will Kill Renewables
    – In part because renewables are weather dependent, so utilities will always opt for always-on fossil fules.
  • Renewable Energy Use Will Grow, But So Will Coal And Natural Gas Use
    – so carbon emmissions will continue to rise 🙁
  • We Could Power 100% Of the Planet With Renewable Energy By 2050
    – The only problem: somehow beating back the fossil fuel industry to a point of nonexistence. This is a pipe dream at best–but one that we should at least aspire to.

50 Ways to Make Your Life More Environmentally Friendly

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A great list.

OK US biased, but easy to adapt to UK living.

1 – Grow your own food.
2 – Eat less meat.
3 – Cut down on processed foods.
4 – Don’t eat foods or drink from BPA-lined containers.
5 – Open windows to let in fresh air.
6 – Open blinds to let in natural light.
7 – Fight “vampire power”. (ie appliances on standby, that still consume energy, sometimes lots!)
8 – Get energy-efficient appliances and electronics.
9 – Take shorter showers.
10 – Wash clothes using cold water.
11 – Hang clothes on a clothesline to dry.
12 – Use leftover bathwater or “greywater” to water plants.
13 – Turn off lights when not in use.
14 – Turn off water when brushing teeth.
15 – Don’t let water run while washing dishes.
16 – Run the dishwasher or washing machine only when there is a full load.
17 – Use waterless car wash to wash your car or bike.
18 – Take public transportation.
19 – Walk or ride your bike.
20 – Use a proven fuel additive when you do drive.
21 – Combine multiple errands into one trip.
22 – Get rid of chemical cleaners.
23 – Use natural materials to clean.
24 – Make your own natural shampoo.
25 – Make your own natural lotion, skin masks and cleansers.
26 – Get outside every day for some sunlight and fresh air.
27 – Print documents as little as possible.
28 – Recycle bottles, cans, newspapers, etc.
29 – Donate items you no longer need or use.
30 – Use reusable bags at the grocery store.
31 – Use reusable containers at home.
32 – Make meals using leftovers.
33 – Freeze foods before it goes bad.
34 – Reduce your food waste.
35 – Compost.
36 – Plant a tree.
37 – Start or contribute to a community garden.
38 – Landscape your own yard with native plants.
39 – Buy used rather than new.
40 – Set thermostat 1-2 degrees lower.
41 – Get a reusable water bottle (and use it!).
42 – Opt for paperless billing.
43 – Pay your bills electronically.
44 – Do a home energy audit.
45 – Fix any leaky faucets to prevent water waste.
46 – Turn old t-shirts into “new” cleaning rags.
47 – Get rid of one-use items (disposable razors, diapers, plasticware, etc).
48 – Read magazines, newspapers and other publications online.
49 – Unsubscribe or cancel all junk mail.
50 – Unplug at least once a day so that you can enjoy nature and the environment around you.

 

The Code For Sustainable Homes (CFSH)

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The Code For Sustainable Homes (CFSH) is a government established national standard for the design AND construction of properties.

Level 0 is equivalent to a Building Regulation pass.
Level 6 is a zero carbon house with at least 17.6 points via the CFSH scheme.

“The Code measures the sustainability of a new home against nine categories of sustainable design, rating the ‘whole home’ as a complete package. It covers Energy/CO2, Water, Materials, Surface Water Runoff (flooding and flood prevention), Waste, Pollution, Health and Well-being, Management and  Ecology.” (From www.communities.gov.uk/planningandbuilding/sustainability/codesustainablehomes/)

There is a nice 4 stage explanation of a strategy to achieve a high CFSH score at http://www.wolseleyselfbuild.co.uk/sustainable-build-eco-homes:

  • Step 1 – Design the building to minimise energy demand
  • Step 2 – When energy use is unavoidable try to use renewable sources
  • Step 3 – Strive to use products with the lowest environmental impact
  • Step 4 – It is not enough to simply understand products and design

The PDF of the CFSH covers:

  • Energy
    • Carbon neutral, defined as zero net emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from all energy use in the home, over a year. eg the amount of consumed electricity (from the grid) is less than put back into the grid from PV’s (Photovoltaic solar panels).
  • Water consumption
    • A normal household uses 120 litres per person per day. For level 5 or 6 the minimum is 80 litres per person per day.
  • Materials used to build the house are all over an environmental impact threshold.
  • Surface water run-off is to be no greater than before for the site.
  • There is a site waste management plan, with monitoring for the construction.
  • Household waste storage to facilitate recycling.
  • Heat loss from the building is specified.
  • Energy efficient internal and external lighting
  • Clothes drying area
  • Rating levels for white goods.
  • Cycle storage
  • Home office
  • Rain water collection and use system.
  • Responsible and environmental ranking of the selection and sourcing of building materials, all the way to finishing elements. eg roofing, windows, timber certification, insulation materials etc.)
  • Composting facilities (it’d be nice to plan in where the wormery is going to go)
  • Good natural daylight.
  • Good sound insulation.
  • A private or partially private outside space
  • Ecological evaluation and where possible ecological enhancement of the site.

Other Green Home Information

Watch out for the fire

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“I do not recommend wood burning stoves in a building as efficient as a
Passivhaus because of the dangers of overheating, but clients are quite often
insistent and these may be more controllable.”

– taken from http://www.building.co.uk/technical/sustainability/passivhaus/incentives-key-for-passivhaus-in-uk/5019141.article

So it seems that I’m not alone in wanting a wood or multi fuel burning stove in a Passivhaus.

I guess this means it’ll be key to pick a smaller than you’d normally go for “wood burner” so that it can get up to operational temperature, but not cause the house to over heat.

Change the house name ?

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Given the number of people who know about my purchase and that also know the name, there are an alarming number that are suggesting or outright saying I need to change the name.

That “Silver Spray” is more like the name of a deodorant or an extra in My Little Pony.

I’ve already mentioned that the road the house is on, which is currently called Droskny Point, and is the southern end of Tregundy Lane, appears to have historically been called Watch House Road. It might be nice to rename the house “Watch House”.

I’ve also been looking up the Cornish for Watch House and Silver Spray:

  • Watch = meras
  • House = chy
  • Sea = more

So “Watch House” would be “Meraschy”, which as a single word looks and sounds odd (to me).

I then found this amazing on-line English to Cornish dictionary that gave me these translations:

  • Silver: Archans, arghans, arhans, arrans, arans
  • Spray: no entry
  • Mist: Niul, niull, huibren, uibren
    A Driving Mist or Drizzle: Skew
    A Thick Mist: Gortheur, goruer
    Misty Rain or Sleet: Slag
  • Dwelling-Place: Tre, trev, trega, tregva trygva, trygfa, dregva drigva, drygva
  • House (Abode, dwelling): Chy, chi, ty, thy, gy, tshy, tshi, tshei, tshey
  • Watch: Holi, holy
    Keeping Watch: Ketwell holy
  • watchman = golyador in Cornish. Sounds like it’s from Lord of the Rings !

So “Watch House” could be “HoliChy”