Home  5  Books  5  GBEzine  5  News  5  HelpDesk  5  Register  5  GreenBuilding.co.uk
Not signed in (Sign In)

Categories



Green Building Bible, Fourth Edition
Green Building Bible, fourth edition (both books)
These two books are the perfect starting place to help you get to grips with one of the most vitally important aspects of our society - our homes and living environment.

PLEASE NOTE: A download link for Volume 1 will be sent to you by email and Volume 2 will be sent to you by post as a book.
Buy individually or both books together. Delivery is free!


powered by Surfing Waves




Vanilla 1.0.3 is a product of Lussumo. More Information: Documentation, Community Support.

Welcome to new Forum Visitors
 Join the forum now and benefit from discussions with thousands of other green building fans and discounts on Green Building Press publications: Apply now.

The AECB accepts no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this site. Views given in posts are not necessarily the views of the AECB.



General: Cooker and heating question

Bottom of Page

1 to 12 of 12

  1.  
    • CommentAuthorJayne
    • CommentTimeApr 23rd 2008 edited
     
    First of all, I'm not sure if this is the right place to post, but anyway here goes... I own an Edwardian house with an ancient (70's I think) oil boiler with a big metal oil tank. I need to replace the central heating and possibly the cooker (I have a gas and electric range from my old house) . I am also on a low income. So do I keep with oil, which would need a new bunded tank (cost over £1000) and opt for either an aga type cooker to for cooking, hot water and central heating (costing about £5000) or an oil boiler and buy a new electric cooker, or go for gas (about £300ish to connect) and have a bog standard gas condensing boiler, possibly with solar for hot water and make use of my existing stove? The last option is definitely the cheapest, but I'm worried about future proofing. My logic in sticking with oil, was the option of using a biofuel if oil supplies become scarce/prohibitively expensive. I already can't afford to restock the oil tank, so that's it for heating until i resolve the central heating dilemma. What's the future for gas, does anyone know?
  2.  
    I don't think low income and agas are compatible. At least, when I used to live in the UK, an aga was a sure sign of a high income.

    As for the future for gas, the future is increasing prices as supply and demand change, especially as the UK will be competing with other countries to import gas once North Sea gas has been exhausted. Same for oil too.

    As for biofuels, my personal opinion is that they are a dead end since there will never be enough production capacity to meet current demands. If it wasn't for subsidies, with the possible exception of sugar-cane sourced ethanol, none of them would be able to compete in the current market.

    Paul in Montreal.
    • CommentAuthorPete1951
    • CommentTimeApr 23rd 2008
     
    Assuming it's a fairly standard Edwardian house on mains gas I would go for a gas condensing boiler, and install a solar water heating system if you have a suitable roof area. I would have an induction hob with either gas or electric A+ rated oven. I would insulate external walls and roof as much as possible. Hope that helps.
    • CommentAuthorludite
    • CommentTimeApr 23rd 2008
     
    I tend to agree with Pete 1951. Where we live at the moment there is oil central heating to the ground floor only. As we can't afford the oil we retreat to the kitchen only, during the winter and rely on my husband to chop enough wood to keep the stove (supplying 2 radiators and hot water) going. . . . . . This year we have estimated that we have burnt a stacked pile of wood 18ftx10ftx8ft high - he's chopped it all and has now chopped enough to see us through half the winter of 2008. This is the problem with wood. Although our fuel is 'free', I need a strong man to chop it up and then somewhere to store it while it dries out, and then I need to be at home to keep the fire stoked. . . . . . .

    By choosing a mains supply of fuel, and the most efficient means of using it, then perhaps investing in a bit of solar for water for the summer, I think you are being more realistic.
    •  
      CommentAuthorrogerwhit
    • CommentTimeApr 23rd 2008
     
    I would heartily endorse all the above, for the forseeable future.
    • CommentAuthorJayne
    • CommentTimeApr 23rd 2008
     
    Ok, thanks to you all, I rather suspected the gas option might be the one to go for short term with a solar hot water solution to back it up. I need a new roof on an extension which is south facing, and was considering the solar tiles - has anyone tried them? Are they comparable with the sealed tube way of heating water? The roof of the main house is well insulated and the top floor has just been renovated (and insulated) so is very warm with barely a need for heating at all.
    Downstairs is still a problem with a front door that leaks air (and water!) and floor boards that do the same. This is all due for renovation too though when funds allow so no doubt most of those issues will go away
    • CommentAuthorludite
    • CommentTimeApr 24th 2008
     
    If you are planning a new south facing roof how about glass? what I mean is, if it's something like a greenhouse which is preventing cold air from outside penetrating the building, then it might be an idea just to heat up the air in the new room and vent it into the rest of the property. . . . . or have you looked into trombe walls - I think that's what they're called, which uses the thermal mass of the wall to heat the building. . . . . I have been recommended (by 2 different companies) that the sealed tubes are the best for this climate - but there again, they probably have a vested interest in what they are telling me.
    • CommentAuthorJayne
    • CommentTimeApr 24th 2008
     
    It's an existing brick built extension (built in the 70's I'd say) which currently has concrete tiles on the roof. I was going to replace them with slate (or slate composite because I'm not sure I have the pitch for slate) and two large rooflights, or use use solar tiles instead of the slates. The rooflights have got high u values. Bizarrely I needed planning permission to replace the roof and that's what I have permission for now. There would also be folding glass doors to the outside , so maybe the amount of sun coming through the rooflights and doors would have a sufficient impact on the temperature. I don't know how to vent the air elswhere though
    • CommentAuthorCWatters
    • CommentTimeApr 24th 2008
     
    Forgive me but it sounds like you have some capital but not much income. Before spending it on your house (which is probably falling in value at the moment) perhaps best to get some long term financial advice? Perhaps get the pension sorted first? The payback period on a some things discussed here (eg solar cells) is very long. Is it actually worth spending money on this particular house in this location? Would it be better to sell it as is and buy one already in good shape? Would it make financial sense to knock it down and build two houses?
    • CommentAuthorcaliwag
    • CommentTimeApr 24th 2008
     
    I would go for an efficient gas boiler coupled with Ravenheat's "energy catcher" flue heat recovery system with suitable hot water storage. As good as free hot water while you are running the boiler, which in Edwardian house is probably 10 months of the year.

    Just google "Ravenheat energy catcher" for latest spec. Is cheap to install and will pay for itself in less than 5 years, rather better than most active systems, I think you'll agree, especially in an Edwardian house where insulation, insulation, insulation is difficult.
    • CommentAuthorcaliwag
    • CommentTimeApr 24th 2008
     
    • CommentAuthorJayne
    • CommentTimeApr 25th 2008
     
    Ok thanks, I'll have a look at that. In response to CWatters, the house is in generally good conditon, and yes I will have some capital coming soon (from an accident claim), but I have a low income to manage month to month - so want to keep monthly bills down - as well as obviously not wasting resources (the earth's and mine!) I have to get the roof replaced anyway, so I understand that's the most economic time to put on solar cells (if they're any good) because you would offset the cost of those against tiles you would have had to buy anyway. The house is well worth investing in, in my opinion - arts and crafts solid design, absolutely no scope for knocking down - wouldn't want to anyway.

1 to 12 of 12

  1.  
Add your comments

    Username Password
  • Format comments as
 
Back to Discussions Top of Page
   
The Ecobuilding Buzz
Site Map    |   Home    |   View Cart    |   Pressroom   |   Business   |   Links   
Logout    

© Green Building Press