We then turned our attention to the main fabric of the building

Tag : fibreglass fabric
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We believe that climate change is the most important issue that weall face. Our lifestyles are polluting the atmosphere with excesscarbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels. This is changingthe climate and having such an uncontrollable effect that it couldincrease the incidence of flooding, raise sea levels and melt ourpolar ice masses causing chaos and hardship to millions includingus.

There is also an irony of Peak Oil. This is the fact that we havereached the apex of fossil fuel supplies and are now running out ofthe very pollutant, which is causing so much damage.


Flat Plate Solar Panels

Gradually we refurbished and improved our cottage. We inherited apair of flat plate copper pipe insulated solar heating panels whichwhen we moved in were not working, I spoke to a number of plumberswho were unable or unwilling to repair the system as they did notunderstand it. They considered it a black art, an attitude stillprevalent today amongst some tradesmen. So being mechanicallyminded I started to read and investigate the system. The pump hadcorroded and once replaced, we were rewarded with hot water fromMay to September. However it was only partially carbon free becauseit required electricity to run the pump and controller.


Central Heating

The oil boiler was replaced at first with a back boiler on the openfire, but later a wood-burning stove was fitted. This is the bestthing we ever did. It is a Hunter Herald and has the facility toheat water, which we linked up with a gas boiler to supply centralheating and domestic hot water via a Baxi neutraliser. The woodstove is so efficient that we no longer use the gas boiler andintend to remove this in the near future. There is a lot of workgathering wood, cutting and stacking it, then laying and cleaningthe fire. A chain saw and a trailer make short work of it and keepus fit. Wood is a totally renewable resource though not carbonneutral, but we try to use a lot of waste wood from pallets andbuilders waste which are free and a form of recycling.


Cottage Refurbishment

We then turned our attention to the main fabric of the building.Insulation is the key. The floorboards downstairs were rotten so wereplaced these with a solid concrete floor insulated withpolystyrene sheeting below. The roof was replaced and the loft andceiling voids were insulated with Rock wool type insulation.Draughts were eliminated and double-glazing added. The sum of thesemeasures undertaken over a long period of time transformed ourcomfort levels as well as our expenses.


Home Power

About seven years ago we became friendly with a family from Vermontand visited them on a motorcycle holiday. Ted lives with his wifein a cabin in the woods and we got talking about sustainability. Heexplained how he built his home from the wood he cleared to makethe homestead. He heats it from his own wood stock and is selfsufficient in electrical energy via a Solar Photovoltaic array orPV and battery based renewable energy system. This was an Americanin America but it got me thinking that I could do something similaron the Island.
We considered our use of energy and electricity in general. Our useof energy was small but I was sure I could improve on it. We boughtenergy saving light bulbs when they first came out. They wereexpensive then and I had to order them from a UK supplier as no onestocked them here. We obtained the most energy efficient products,A or AA rated, whenever we changed electrical devices and ran themtill they expired.


Wind Turbine

I obtained a 300 watt Wind Generator from a company called Navitronin Monmouth and managed to get planning permission to erect it inthe garden. It is 6 metres high and has a 2 metre diameter spanconsisting of 3 fibreglass blades. This was a kit and consisted ofgenerator, pole, and control gear. Ownership of the generator hasbeen a learning curve. Problems were experienced with the noise ofthe blades, which was overcome by a new set of low noise blades.There were electrical faults in the control gear, which I replaced,insufficient ground anchors that I beefed up. Due to the topographyof the area in which I live there was only really one place inwhich to have the generator. However as with most things it is acompromise, and unfortunately the generator is sheltered from somewind directions. On balance it is a success.


Photovoltaic Panels

The other electrical input we have is PV. We obtained these one ata time and added to the system of 4 of 40 watt polycrystallinepanels. These supply the same batteries as the wind generator. Thebatteries were obtained second-hand from a large Bank uninterruptedpower supply or UPS system when they are changed. The batteries arelow maintenance, sealed for life and are protected with a separatecharge controller on the PV and wind power systems.


Evacuated Tube Solar Thermal

The panels in our aging solar water heaters leaked. I found thatthe copper had at last corroded but we estimated they had given atleast 20 years sterling service so did not owe us anything. So itwas back to Navitron and we invested in a 20 tube evacuated tubesolar panel system, which we installed. We eventually installed asecond panel and I can report that it is a great success.
The technology had improved greatly within the lifetime of the lastpanels. Vacuum tubes panels can be smaller in profile than the flatpanels they replace and give superior output. The controllingelectronics have also improved and we were now able to gocompletely carbon free using power from the batteries to feedcontroller and pump.


Organic Vegetables

Although we only have a small garden we started to grow our ownvegetables and have had a good couple of years. We have been usingorganic principles, however space to grow enough for all our needswas lacking. Recently I have obtained a allotment which willimprove this aspect of our lifestyle.


Air Travel

One further recent pledge is to avoid if possible the use of flyingin our travel arrangements. We live on an island so this doesrestrict our options and of course if it was essential we wouldconsider it.


Transport

We run our Diesel cars on rapeseed bio fuel and are careful to tryand reduce our journeys, but our hobby is motorcycling.


Further Carbon Reduction

We did not undertake these lifestyle choices for profit. There isfinancial incentive in them but our main motive is reducing ourcarbon use. We are thinking of installing a second wood burningcooking stove in the kitchen. We save water for watering the gardenand washing cars and windows. We have a dream of securing someland.


Payback

I believe that you should help yourself. There were no grantsavailable from Tynwald when I installed my equipment. Comments Ireceive from interested people say that the grants are too low andforms and conditions too officious.
The question most often posed is about financial payback. It maywell be that there will never be a financial payback, however incarbon terms the payback is very short. I would estimate we havereduced our carbon use by 75% and there could be further savings astechnology improves. One important fact is that energy prices areunlikely to drop. They are currently increasing at twice theinflation rate year on year. Investments now in energy efficiencieswill only be a bargain for the future.


Future

It is becoming increasingly frustrating that society is not takingclimate change, fuel oil poverty and security seriously. Time isticking and the Isle of Man has huge resources going begging. Wind,tide, solar and biomass possibilities all exist on the Island. Wecannot immediately produce all our power from these elements. It isgoing to take time.
This time should be spent planning. Even a small renewable responsewould give the island less energy to import and is a start insustainability. There was once an experimental 100Kw turbineerected to the West of South Barrule, which was used from 1959 forabout 5 years, until repeated mechanical problems caused it to betaken down. We were then at the forefront of wind turbine design.Where are we now?


Useful websites and resources

Manx Energy Advice Centre*
Manx Organic Network
Isle of Man friends of the Earth*
IOM Permaculture Association Zero Waste Mann*

* all these organisations meet at the Green Centre, Chester Street,Douglas next to shoprite on the lower floor, 1000 to 1400 hrs onSaturdays. Representatives of these organisations are available todiscuss all manner of green issues.

There is a good selection of books on sustainable living at theRamsey Library and the green centre.


Books to read

The Last Oil Shock by David Strahan
The Parties Over by Richard Heinberg
Powerdown by Richard Heinberg


Films

An Inconvenient Truth
A Crude Awakening the Oil Crash
The Power of Community; how Cuba survived Peak Oil