What can we do?

Yes, good point Chris. The reason we went for gas (over storage rads) in the first place was that it was cheaper. Also it occurs to me that the huge cost of upgrading everyone to electric is probably in the supply side - the boilers themselves look good for the individual (albeit the cost per kW.)
This is the annoying thing with the suppliers though - in a market driven by competition alone then you just get the feeling that they will promise roses for peanuts then burn tyres to supply it (I'm exaggerating somewhat as usual!) But then if you pay a little more for a guarantee of a green supply (as I would do) then you might well be buying a premium marketed 'lifestyle' flag to wave and little else! I'm not interested in the middle class flag to wave just progress and Im realistic about what that would (will) actually cost given the current enormity of the situation.
Three phase at 3kW each! That's bonkers! Maybe... Maybe it isn't - makes everyone think about power at least!
 
The French government tried to pull the same stunt as the UK Hen-Jen and remove the index-linking of pensions. Faced with a €30 a month reduction this was one of the reasons for the Yellow Jacket protest movement.

French house wiring is notorious Rick, the reason being that trying to balance the phase loading resulted in a lot of DIY modifications. Electric showers don't exist here and kettles are typically 2KW. We are very lucky with this place as it is one of the rare single phase supplies, limited to 6KW so our wiring is simple and our standing charge as low as you can get. When the compulsory (seller pays) electrical survey came up with no faults we knew this was a good buy. The lead survey showed paint on a 250 year old cupboard door and the septic tank pipe work didn't quite comply- strangely enough though they didn't check if the enzymes were working, which they were not.
 
Not sure how many units of electricity I use per day. The standing charge (51c per day) and VAT make up most of my bill. I cook with bottled gas and heat with a multifuel stove, which in Winter, heats the water and the entire house quite economically. When it's not cold enough to light the stove, but gets chilly in the evenings, I have electric thermostatically controlled radiant heat panels on the ceilings, which are individually controlled, so I can use heat just in the room I'm in. I also have a small, 400W electric heater, which I use in the living room in the evenings, rather than turn on any other heat. It's brilliant, and very efficient.

I've been dithering with the idea of getting an Instant Hot Water Tap fitted in the kitchen. They're expensive though.
 
Call it self indulgent but there are some things I’m not prepared to forgo like freezers. Dried fish and salted mutton are edible in extremis but not really my first choice. And preserved vegetables definitely don’t do it for me. But certainly buying efficient models and keeping them in a cool outbuilding is sensible.
But I feel that producing a sizeable chunk of my animal protein needs, dressing like a tramp and not owning a car offset that.
 
Especially if you grow/raise your own food, then a freezer is a must and you are saving carbon points by not going shopping, freezers if kept full are fairly economical.
I am thinking of adopting the Elizabethan practice of only bathing once a year, to save on fuel, water, strangely Mrs yeti man is not to keen on this approach to being carbon neutral :lol:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Back
Top