Interests and desires change with
experience. As a result, I am now tempted to
change direction... It might be old age, it may be environmental awareness, -
however, I am now working on different strands as well as my usual range of
work.
Writing
I now have one novel completed and available... I have been
writing and revising it for years, and finally got it into print... you can buy
it from
here
How to build a Wood-burning Stove out of an old Gas Canister is also available
from the same place.
Alternative Energy.
For some time now I have been
concerned
about the impact that my own modest lifestyle has been having on the planet, and
I am seeing more and more people becoming aware that something needs to change.
To this end I am currently researching Low Tech solutions that normal people can
implement in order to reduce carbon emissions, - and our fuel
bills. There follows below a list of links to interesting sites for those
who are also tempted to get 'greener'.
To start you thinking. The average household in the
UK uses 12.5kWhrs of electricity per day. Rounded down, about 4,500kWhrs
per year.
A Small, 4-5ft diameter wind turbine, bolted to your house, can produce, in
light winds, about 350w, - or 1/3kW/hr. Potentially 8kWhrs per day.
Suppose this happens for only 180 days, that comes to 1440kWhrs... about a third
of the average bill. At only 10p per unit, that is a massive £144 saving.
Further... Most UK households could reduce their
consumption by 25% (we managed 40%!!!) by simply fitting Low Energy light bulbs and not
leaving things on when not being used, and never leaving things
like TVs and Video Recorders on standby... It makes you think. Don't
gripe about the cost of power... PARTICULARLY if you are simply wasting it!
Wind Power Links. www.bwea.com British
wind energy association. The first place to look about wind power in the
UK. Details of legislation and restrictions and what you need to do when
considering a system.
www.otherpower.com As a refreshing change from the British approach, -
here are a bunch of guys who just do it. Who would think of building a
three phase permanent magnet alternator, at home, out of scrap? - these guys did
it, - and show you how
here.
Simple is good... there are wind turbines that bolt onto
your house and plug into your grid... they come at a price, - about £1500, but
you don't have to have any technical knowledge, and eventually they pay for
themselves in reduced bills... (about ten years) this one is such
www.windsave.com/WS1000.htm
You might like to support these guys,
www.velacreations.com
They make a kit for a small wind turbine... but to plug straight into the grid
you will also need a fancy box of tricks... from
here.
If you are truly interested by now, and want a good cheap
turbine, try www.navitron.org.uk they are the
cheapest I have yet found for hardware in the UK. If you want some ideas
about other things you can do, have a look
HERE for what Dick
Strawbridge 'off the telly' has been up to.
Solar Water Heating Links. Yes, even in the UK Solar water heating panels on your roof could save you
between 30% and 75% of the cost of your domestic hot water... but as usual, the
UK is slow to wake up, due mainly to horror stories about rip-off companies
doing it wrong and at great cost. There are a few systems available though,
and the best site that I have so far found is
www.navitron.org.uk who can supply you with components for DIY systems, or put
you in touch with someone to fit them for you... a whole system from about
£1500...
