SteamyTea

Does not really change the overall price, just an accounting breakdown. Still the beaches are clean till next week. This Week Dog waste may harm nature reserve biodiversity by fertilising the soil Dogs’ urine and faeces bring large amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus into suburban nature reserves, which could be harmful to plant biodiversity. Taking your dog for a walk in a nature reserve could harm biodiversity because its faeces and urine bring in excess nitrogen and phosphorus to the ecosystem. While the effects of dogs on wildlife, through disease transmission and disturbance, have been well-studied, little is known about the impact of their waste. To investigate, Pieter De Frenne at Ghent University in Belgium and his colleagues monitored the number of dogs at four sites in nature reserves less than 5 kilometres from the centre of Ghent between February 2020 and June 2021. They included forests, grassland and a meadow that were both popular for recreation and considered important for biodiversity. In total, the researchers counted 1629 dogs across the sites, which corresponded to 1530 dogs per hectare per year. They assumed dogs spent one hour at the two larger sites and half an hour at the two smaller ones, on average. Using known values of nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in dog faeces and urine, they then calculated the amounts that dogs would have brought into these ecosystems. They estimate that dogs bring 5 kilograms of phosphorus per hectare per year and 11 kilograms of nitrogen per hectare per year into suburban nature reserves. Read more: Animal magnetism: Why dogs do their business pointing north “That’s 50 per cent of the nitrogen that comes in via the rain,” says De Frenne. However, this assumes that the dogs’ owners don’t take any of the waste away with them. These figures are significant, says De Frenne. Too much phosphorus or nitrogen – common components of fertilisers – in the soil can lead to loss of plant biodiversity and habitat degradation. “Dogs bring substantial amounts of nutrients to nature reserves and woodlands that should not be neglected,” says De Frenne. “Dog owners should be aware that their dog is behaving as a fertiliser, and if this is not yet the case, pick up their faeces more.” The study found that if owners picked up all of the dogs’ faeces, this would reduce the nitrogen input by 57 per cent and the phosphorus input by 97 per cent. Journal reference: Ecological Solutions, DOI: 10.1002/2688-8319.12128 Join us for a mind-blowing festival of ideas and experiences. New Scientist Live is going hybrid, with a live in-person event in Manchester, UK, that you can also enjoy from the comfort of your own home, from 12 to 14 March 2022. Find out more. Chen Ly

There is an assumption, based on the old rates system, about how much water runs off and hits the highway. Shown as a separate charge. Then that is added to the rainwater that is a fraction based on the usage. If I was to install a borehole legally, all I would save is the imported water, which costs about the same as everyone else's (£1-1.50 m3).

I am currently reading a book about oil. Just finished the chapter about drilling. When it was written, the cost of drilling was $9/boe. This has been steadily increasing since 1984. Gas exploration and drilling is a similar price. There are 1628 kWh in a barrel. Onshore wind is now about $1000/kW installed capacity (maybe a little less in developing nations). So if ever US dollar spent on getting oil/gas was put into onshore wind, and assuming a life of 25 years, you would get 0.073.5 MWh/$, whereas oil is giving you 0.18 MWh/$. Whoops, error corrected.

Exactly. Nothing like the complexity of the James Webb telescope. That is much harder to put right now. I am sure they will it all the spots lined up on sight.

How are building warranties dealt with if built under notice? Quick look on the planningportal.co.uk seems to show little difference. If the architect has done their job, then no need for full plans. If the architect does not trust their own work, then full plans. Seems to say more about architects than builders. Building Notice You can apply for Building Regulations approval from your local authority Building Control Service by giving a building notice. Plans are not required with this process so it’s quicker and less detailed than the full plans application. It is designed to enable some types of building work to get under way quickly; although it is perhaps best suited to small work. There are also specific exclusions in the regulations as to when building notices cannot be used. These are: For building work in relation to a building to which the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies, or will apply after the completion of the building work. For work which will be built close to or over the top of rain water and foul drains shown on the 'map of sewers' Where a new building will front onto a private street If you decide to use this procedure you need to be confident that the work will comply with the Building Regulations or you will risk having to correct any work you carry out if your local authority requests this. In this respect you do not have the protection provided by the approval of 'full plans'. Once you have given your 'building notice' and informed your local authority that you are about to start work, the work will be inspected as it progresses. You will be advised by the authority if the work does not comply with the Building Regulations. If before the start of work, or while work is in progress, your local authority requires further information such as structural design calculations or plans, you must supply the details requested. A 'building notice' is valid for three years from the date the notice was given to the local authority, after which it will automatically lapse if the building work has not commenced. A local authority is not required to issue a completion certificate under the building notice procedure and because no full plans are produced it is not possible to ask for a determination if your local authority says your work does not comply with the Building Regulations. Full plans You can apply for Building Regulations approval from your local authority Building Control Service by submitting a full plans application. An application deposited under this procedure needs to contain plans and other information showing all construction details, preferably well in advance of when work is to start on site. Your local authority will check your plans and consult any appropriate authorities (e.g. fire and sewerage). They must complete the procedure by issuing you with a decision within five weeks or, if you agree, a maximum of two months from the date of deposit. If your plans comply with the Building Regulations you will receive a notice stating that they have been approved. If your local authority is not satisfied you may be asked to make amendments or provide more details. Alternatively, a conditional approval may be issued. This will either specify modifications which must be made to the plans; or will specify further plans which must be deposited with your authority. Your local authority may only apply conditions if you have either requested them to do so or have consented to them doing so. A request or consent must be made in writing. If your plans are rejected the reasons will be stated in the notice. A full plans approval notice is valid for three years from the date of deposit of the plans, after which the local authority may send you a notice to declare the approval of no effect if the building work has not commenced. Your local authority will carry out inspections of the building work once it is in progress. They will explain about the notification procedures which the regulations require you to follow at various stages of the work - e.g. in connection with foundations, damp proof courses and drains. In addition, if you request one when you first make your application, the local authority will issue you with a completion certificate provided they are content that the completed work complies with the Building Regulations. A further point to bear in mind is that, if a disagreement arises with your local authority, the 'full plans' procedure enables you to ask for a 'determination' from (in England) the Department for Communities and Local Government or (in Wales) the Welsh Assembly Government about whether your plans do or do not comply with the Building Regulations.

I doubt it. It would cripple German manufacturing. I seem to remember, about a decade ago, the UK mothballed one of our largest gas fields. Should not take long to get it back on stream. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morecambe_gas_fields Seems the decommissioning only started last year. Reserves of 150×109 m3 So at 3.6 kWh per m³ That will be 5.4¹¹ kWh. Big number. Would heat 20,000,000 housed for a year.

Try living in Cormwall. We pay for water, then for sewage, then twice for rainwater. What comes off our roofs, and what falls on our property and goes into the streets. Still, the £8.50/tonne we pay keeps the beaches clean so holiday maker's dogs can shit on them.

Much more complicated than that. https://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/energy-economics/statistical-review-of-world-energy.html

You tell us, you comment on these things all the time. It is only a matter of looking back at historical data.

Was that the one last winter, the coldest on record (to put it into perspective).

When fuel inject cars became mainstream in the late 1980s and early 1990's, many garages, including proper dealerships, were not very good at diagnosing problems. My 205 had a habit of loosing power and belching black smoke. The main unit was changed several times, but it was just a cheap sensor that was at fault. Same with my Vauxhall. Should not take as long for the industry to get to grips with heat pumps as the majority of the parts/design is the same. The design is a different matter as many of these units will be sold by people that do not know what they are saying, and a few will still think in BTUs. If someone claims to be a heating engineer, ask to see their higher education certificate.

Took a few years for it to become a real problem though. Or did something else change?

I prefer partying with 'tools', it improves my chances of scoring.

Eats Shoots and Leaves

Nut Screws Washers and Bolt. Makes for a good headline in the Sun.

Personally I think we should scrap grants, subsidies and incentives and just use fuel price as the 'nudger'. People are very happy to comment on how much their houses have risen in value, then whinge and whine about the cost of fuel. (expletive deleted) em, let them borrow a bit of cash against the property.

Pultruded GRP is easy to drill and bolt. You may need to use some spreading washers. You can use an adhesive, but you need to treat the GRP first as it has a release agent in it. Or you can get the proper fasteners: https://www.bighead.co.uk/ Used to be one of the nicest companies I have ever dealt with.

They may be eligible until the scheme changes in March.

Welcome What car do you drive and how far each year. My biggest saving now is in transport. But insulate and control the ventilation.

Looks similar to this one: https://www.screwfix.com/p/stuart-turner-showermate-standard-regenerative-twin-shower-pump-1-5bar/543pg Screwfix would probably let you take it back if it was the wrong size. I fitted the cheapest one from Screwfix in 2008 I think, it has run faultlessly. Pumps my shower and bath a treat. Pipework needs lagging, your inheritance is being lost.

Is the word 'board' being used loosely here?. 100mm (4inch) is not a great deal of insulation, even in mild Cornwall. If the property is exposed to the wind, airtightness becomes important.

Useful for cutting dolphins out of gill nets. Advertise it in a sea fishing mag.

Disney Characters Bing Sings

It is the next milestone. Shall we all meet up on here when they announce it, be about 2050.