After the Party

At the time of writing this, Glastonbury looms on the weekend horizon - lets hope the rain stays away this year - to do battle with the World Cup (particularly England's game on Sunday) and of course Wimbledon reaches the half way stage.

But what happens after the 'party'? Once everyone's gone home, back to their usual everyday lives, what grabs our attention - what fills our days?

I think it's a bit like that with Solar Energy and the recent feed-in tariffs announced.

There was a lot of build up and I mean a lot of comment and anticipation, there was the launch date and then.... well not much it seems. At least not in my neighbourhood.

The web seems not only full of stories of solar installation companies being busy, but also of reports of homeowners being given false information by unscrupulous installers and shoddy installations.

But I don't see a lot of evidence of massive installations on my travels around Derbyshire. In fact I don't think I've seen one more house with solar panels on it than before April.

So what's stopping people or are they really not aware of what a good installation can offer them?

The Government announced last week that it's planning to scrap a load of 'under-performing' websites after reviewing current web activity and realising they'd spent over £94 million on 46 websites with an additional cost of £32 million in staffing costs for 2009-2010 alone.

One website they could do with keeping, or at least improving is one on advising homeowners on green energy and spelling out exactly how much a solar system could cost, and how long it will take a homeowner to recoup their investment after feed-in tariffs and installation grants have been taken into account.

This, to me anyway, seems to be the biggest hurdle to mass take up by homeowners of solar energy. We all know it's good, we just don't know how much it's going to cost us.

One cost you can get for yourself is a quote on an installation - photovoltaic or hot water solar system - from Solar Panel Quoter.co.uk. A free online resource that afterwards, if you choose to, can put you in touch with reputable local solar panel installers near you.

photo credit: infrogmation

England flags on cars affect mpg by 3 to 6 miles per gallon

If you feel obliged to show your support for our National team and adorn your car or van with those England flags - you'd better be prepared for more trips to the petrol station.

That was the message from a 'light-hearted' question on BBC Radio 2 last night when a listener wrote asking the question - "Do England flags affect the fuel economy of my car?".

An Expert was duly found to answer the question and his analysis was that each flag adds an extra 3 to 6 miles per gallon to your overall miles per gallon figure.

That's per flag! Most cars I've seen have been sporting at least 2 flags.

And it gets worse. The heavier or more loaded the vehicle is, the worse the fuel economy gets.

Now times that by all the flags you've seen driving around your neighbourhood and imagine that across the whole country and suddenly, the extra fuel use costs and pollution become almost Biblical in proportion.

Think I'll stick with a sticker - inside the back window.

If anyone has more figures to add - like the total cost to motorists and/or the environment during the World Cup etc, that would be great.

photo credit: will palmer

World Cup an excuse for just televising the laundry?

Thanks to @Inhabitat for tweeting this link to the Swirl - a non-electric washing machine concept.

It's quite simply a ball which you fill up with your laundry and water/detergent - then kicking it around provides the kinetic energy to wash the clothes.

It's been developed with communities where water is scarce in mind - particularly 3rd world countries where washing means a long walk to the water supply.

Click here to read the full report and see pictures of the Swirl in action at Inhabitots.

They think laundry times all over - it is now.

photo credit: unofficial england rugby