Roger440

Am i missing something obvious. Why would i want to supply the grid from my car. My house , yes, can see that benefit, but the grid?

I guess its encouraging they know there is a big problem to fix. Not so good that the "solution" will mean a shortage. Of course, when that happens, i think we can safely assume the fix will be more self certification. Which will take us back to the problem of any old crap being signed off!

You make it sound so easy! Be handy if i could do it. I blame my maths teachers.

Have you considered EPS beads inbetween plasterboard and wall thus avoiding mosot of the disruption. Accepting that there may be condensation risk and/or depending on the state of the walls, damp transfer. Im guessing no DPC in the walls? As an aside, i do rather like that................

Maybe didn't explain myself well. When it's cold, the return temp is lower because more heat is dumped into the house. At least that's what I've found with an IR thermometer on the return pipe. So when it's milder, I find I need to turn down the boiler temp if I want the return temp low enough. Ie, manual weather comp. Not overly practical of course

And the condensing temp on oil boiler is lower than gas ones too. When it's proper cold, it's ok, but in milder weather, cycling is unavoidable. So significant periods it's not condensing.

It's a five year old condensing boiler so shouldn't be too bad. I too could massively improve the house. Just makes no economic sense. I've sorted out all but one of the significant air leaks already. To sort the last one, I need to take the corner of the roof off!

Thats what the internet suggests. What number do you think is realistic?

Yes, the barn has a 4000sqft roof. But siginificantly shaded and a shallow pitch, so not really much use. I do have a 4 acre field, the southern bounday of which has uninterrupted views of the sky. I we thinking more along the line of JohnMo's arrangement of vertical panels to maximise winter production. (glossing over any planning issues!) As said earlier, tons of power in summer is of little use to me, If i need to top up with the oil burner in the least productive periods, that not an much of an issue. It will be a massive oil consumption reduction either way. Heating parts of the barn is a seperate issue project. Though potentially stil linked. Just to make life more difficult. That currently on resistance heating and makes my meter spin rather quick! I should resuurect by barn heating thread.

I used 90% to allow for inefficency. On little basis other than that seems sort of right-ish. 20 would only apply with a HP of course. To get 20 in mid winter, even if mounted vertically is going to be a massive array. The numbers people seem to be getting are all over the place, so hard to know. Im keen to avoid batteries. Partly due to cost, but also moves me further away from DIY.

That would be nice. Not sure if thats achievable in my case without demolition.

Fortunately i dont, as i expected it. Its certainly not a surprise its high. Wasnt using much less in the last place, though that was nearly twice the size. Would be nice to be lower, but back to that payback issue. Just makes no sense. And im releatively confident the government will pay eventually, so no good spending my money. However, there are things i will do, because it will make it nicer, primarily the windows, and the (uninsulated) flat roofed part, which will need reroofing at some point.

Late into this one. But, yes, seems very high! Ive got a stone built cottage, with 70's extension and even worse 70's double glazing. In wales, halfway up a hill. ?So much colder overall. Im doing circa 70kWh. Fortunately im on oil so only paying 1/4 of the price per kWh that you are. As others have said, id be looking to reduce heat loss first. I would imagine with heat loss that bad theres going to be some easy wins there, especially with air leaks.

Sadly, a rough calculation suggests im dreaming. Based on my oil consumption, im currently munching circa 70kWh per day if my calcs are right. Though that may not be the case.. And ive got a barn to heat part of by some means too.

Nothing much i guess. I have no use for it.

Surely the invertor will manage the voltage situation? Yes, the start current might be an issue. But i could just use the mains for that. Someone posted a load divertor device a while back. Obviously the downside of the heat pump is, i need to be generating enough to run it. Whereas with immersion, i can use any solar power available. So on dull days ill still get something. That may not be the case with a heat pump. Just musing. Needs thinking through. The driver is, that i could, if i wanted to, put up a 50kw array, im not limited for space. Only money. The oil boiler would then be retained to heat same tank in the event of a shortfall in solar energy. Still need to avoid electronics as far as is possible, as they are, inevitably, the weak point.

I very much like the large tank idea. Ive been looking at this, as i have, effectively unimited space for solar panels, and more or less, unlimited indoor space in the barn. It much cheaper than batteries, And simpler. And no bunch of electronics to go wrong. The question then is, do you use a heatpump to heat that water? As it will be circa 3 times more efficient than immersion. Cost of solar panels at £100 a pop V the cost and complication of a heat pump. If it works well enough, then i can not bother destroying the house to try and insulate it. Idea needs proper numbers putting to it. Which is where i tend to fall down.

Can i ask why you used a private BCO in this instance?

Are you sure? When i built my insulated garage, it was cheaper than all of those.

No idea! Still seems like a quick, simple solution. And can arrive in kit form ready to be bolted together.

If its not airtight, what possible use will EWI be if there is ambient air circulating in the cavity?

Thats a good summary. To be honest, i couldnt evenfind a bargain I dont know why people rate them so highly.

Im not sure i understand the definition of a "small site". Is that 5 houses, one house, an extension? Sounds like another load of non jobs hsave been created. Who will no doubt charge £1000 a day for their services.

That makes no sense. With no DPC the wall is wicking water already to some extent. Where will it go if you stick EPS in front of it? If you stick a load of damp clothes in a plastic bag and hang it on the washing line, what do you think will happen?

Magic no. But damn good at stopping moisture. A french drain, in most cases will not solve this. Imporove? Maybe. Solve. No. Not unless you are building in a desert. Sadly, it rains here a fair bit. Ground is always damp.