Working Group
A group has now been set up to look at home energy. The contact is: ttwk.energy@gmail.com.
Visit our Energy Group notes page to see notes of the previous meetings.
Current TTWK Projects
Solar Hot Water Project
Solar hot water systems use the sun to heat hot water. They work all year round (though in winter you'll need a boiler or immersion heater to top up the heat), cut your energy bills and your carbon footprint. However, they typically cost £2000-£5000 to install and it can be difficult as an individual to know where to start.
• What's the idea? - In this project, a group of West Kirby residents will negotiate a discount on bulk purchase & installation of hot water systems in the town.
• How will it work? - Following the example set by TT Totnes, we'll organise several solar installers to quote on three properties that represent the different challenges that a solar installer will face, giving us a representative sample pricing structure. We will then chose the the best value, and negotiate a discount. Individuals in the scheme will get them around to quote and install a system. We'll work with the Energy Savings Trust to help guide you through the grant application process.
• Interested? - We're currently asking anyone who wants to know more to register so we can gauge interest. We're not asking for any firm commitment yet. There will be a mailing later in the summer detailing the requirements that your property will need to meet in order to be suitable. Anyone interested should email their details to ttwk.energy@gmail.com.
• Able to publicize? - Download the flyer and distribute it to people who may be interested. Click here
Sustainable energy sources
Sustainable energy sources include
• hot water solar panels
• photovaltaic (electricity generating) solar panels
• wood-burning stoves
• wind turbines
Please contact us if you already have solar panels fitted - we want to pool our knowledge and experiences.
Hot water solar panels
These are easier to install if your system is a conventional one of a hot water cylinder in an airing cupboard, rather than a combination boiler.
There are two types:
• Flat metal plate with a coper pipe that is connected directly to the hot water cylinder
• Evacuated tube needing a heat exchanger - more expensive, but better on a cloudy day - three hours of summer sunshine can give a full hot water cylinder at 60 deg.
Photovoltaic solar panels
See Solar PV page
Wood-burning stoves
Wood burning stoves are also worth considering. They release CO2 when the wood is burnt, but only the same amount as was taken up by the trees when they were growing, so wood-burning stoves are carbon-neutral.
They can use a lot of wood in the Winter if used for both heating and hot water- perhaps 10 large bags per week .
Download details of a talk given at a TTWK energy event in May 2009 by a HETAS-approved stove installer.
Miscellaneous
We hope to organise brief energy efficiency audits as has been done in Totnes recently. (See here).
Links
Energy Projects Plus
www.epplus.org.uk
Energy efficiency advice centre in Wallasey
Energy Saving Trust
www.energysavingtrust.org.uk
Non-profit organisation that provides free impartial advice on options and grants for energy saving and generation.
Earthpill
www.earthpill.com
Earthpill allows people with energy monitors to upload their readings into a free online database so that people without energy monitors can find out where they are using electricity.
Sustainable Energy - without the hot air by David JC McKay
Available to read online or download free at www.withouthotair.com
"This remarkable book from an expert in the energy field sets out, with enormous clarity and objectivity, the various alternative low-carbon pathways that are open to us. Policy makers, researchers, private sector decision makers, and NGOs, all will benefit from these words of wisdom." Sir David King FRS, Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Government, 2000-08
Human labour
Sometimes people suggest that humans could fill the gap between current use and what can be produced from renewable sources, e.g. by connecting a bicycle to a dynamo - but we are currently averaging much higher energy use than we could generate from food - see What is a Human Being Worth (in Terms of Energy) from http://europe.theoildrum.com/node/4315
Sources
The information on this page comes from a variety of sources, including a talk by Andy Hunt (Trafford Council) to Transition Town West Kirby on 17th September 2008, giving his personal experiences.