What changes can we make to our lives to deal with the economic and energy crises ahead? Have you already started making preparations? Got tips to share?
ujoni08 wrote:I've been considering a small MVHR unit in the bathroom, fitted in the hole where the existing extractor fan is. Do people think it's a good idea?
Renewable Candy is quite a fan (!) of them; I bought one one the strength of her enthusiasm (Kiltox) but I haven't reached the point on the to-do list where fitting it appears.
If you've 'normal' (i.e. modern) walls, it looks like a doddle to fit. Ours are 3ft thick plaster/rubble/stone/render and the disruption it will cause has shoved the job further down that list.
Yes, yes and a packet of crisps please
A question (Ken!) about MVHR.
Normally, the unit will bring in cold air from the outside, exchanging heat with the warm air going out.
What happens when the incoming air is constantly of a higher temperature than that exiting? How does it affect the purpose & performance of the unit? Let's give an extreme example - if the 'outside' air is actually a conservatory, say.
I experience pleasure and pains, and pursue goals in service of them, so I cannot reasonably deny the right of other sentient agents to do the same - Steven Pinker
Normally, the unit will bring in cold air from the outside, exchanging heat with the warm air going out.
What happens when the incoming air is constantly of a higher temperature than that exiting? How does it affect the purpose & performance of the unit? Let's give an extreme example - if the 'outside' air is actually a conservatory, say.
You turn it off and open the window for the summer.
Same with a whole house unit.
It would be unwise, no silly, to vent one of these units into a conservatory or other semi enclosed space as you would be recirculating stale moist air. You would transfer the damp problem from the bathroom to the conservatory.
Sorry about the late reply but I've only just seen your post, Em.
Normally, the unit will bring in cold air from the outside, exchanging heat with the warm air going out.
What happens when the incoming air is constantly of a higher temperature than that exiting? How does it affect the purpose & performance of the unit? Let's give an extreme example - if the 'outside' air is actually a conservatory, say.
You turn it off and open the window for the summer.
Same with a whole house unit.
It would be unwise, no silly, to vent one of these units into a conservatory or other semi enclosed space as you would be recirculating stale moist air. You would transfer the damp problem from the bathroom to the conservatory.
Sorry about the late reply but I've only just seen your post, Em.
Thanks Ken, no worries. The unit will be fitted (not exiting to the conservatory, you'll be glad to know) but to the outside under a canopy - where the air might on an off-chance get warmer than inside occasionally.
Our house has a peculiar problem in as much as it is sometimes damper in summer than in winter! This is because the wood stove, in the centre of the house, draws air through the house and keeps it dry nicely in winter. In summer, air often doesn't circulate as freely, even with apertures open.
I experience pleasure and pains, and pursue goals in service of them, so I cannot reasonably deny the right of other sentient agents to do the same - Steven Pinker
Could you fit an ordinary fan somewhere in the middle of the house vented to the outside - a roof terminal perhaps - to use in the summer to pull air through from open windows? I suppose the Irish climate is a lot damper than ours even in the summer.
Maybe it could be connected to its own pv panel. A 12V 100mmØ computer fan into a 100Ø duct would do nicely with a 5W pv panel.
That's a pretty good idea ken, thanks. Cogitation required.
I experience pleasure and pains, and pursue goals in service of them, so I cannot reasonably deny the right of other sentient agents to do the same - Steven Pinker
Long term update time.
The poor air qauility issue in the bedrooms has been resolved by A small fan that gives a continual fresh air supply to each bedroom.
The air inlet to each room is a low level and arranged so as to heat the air by passing it over the hot water pipe.
Works perfectly.
One of the wind turbines was killed by a goose, and replaced. Electrical output from these wind turbines has exceeded expectations.
The recent very cold weather was an interesting test, and the only time that the heat pumps AND the Rayburn were both needed at the same time to maintain a comfortable temperature.
Measured temperatures on the coldest day were as follows
Cooking area----------24
Living area------------23
Entrance porch--------11
Workshop and store---17
Bedrooms--------------Averaged 17
Bathroom---------------20
Shower room-----------22
Linen store-------------25
Other data during the severe weather
PV production---------------very low as modules covered in snow
Wind production------------Varied, but averaged over 1KW
"Installers and owners of emergency diesels must assume that they will have to run for a week or more"
Potemkin Villager wrote:You like it very warm A2. Don't tell me you were sitting around
in tee shirt and shorts!
This is not my home.
I reported on it as I thought others might be interested in the off grid energy aspects.
In MY home, I have struggled to get the living room to 23 degrees and the rest of the house into double figures during the severe weather, and that with a greater use of electricity and paraffin than I would like.
I do not posses any shorts, and would consider tee shirts to be strictly summer attire.
"Installers and owners of emergency diesels must assume that they will have to run for a week or more"
It's a nice spring day here in VT. +5C outside and as I wear flannel routinely all winter including flannel lined jeans I haven't started the fire this morning as the house is at 19C and is getting warmer in the sunshine. When the Boss gets back from licensing dogs (April 1st deadline) I'll start the fire back up when her internal thermostat tells me it's cold somewhere around 25 degrees.
This is the first day without a fire going in the furnace sense November.
Disaster has occurred, in the form of a house fire.
Everyone got out OK and pets all rescued.
No major structural damage, but significant smoke damage.
The fire started in the open plan living area, cause not established for certain but suspected to be a tablet computer.
The older child was woken by the dog, smelled smoke and raised the alarm before the smoke detectors operated.
The fire brigade did their best but due to the rather remote location took about 20 minutes to arrive, fire fighting hampered by lack of water.
Several IBCs full of water already to hand were used in addition to the water carried by the fire engine.
On site fire fighting resources consisted of two garden hoses, buckets and stirrup pumps, use of same contained the fire but were not sufficient to extinguish it.
Repairs in hand.
"Installers and owners of emergency diesels must assume that they will have to run for a week or more"
No, not mine.
Old family friends, my only involvement was assisting regarding the electrical aspects of the new home.
The fire started in the open plan ground floor living area and has caused smoke damage throughout and fire damage to the ceiling and floor joists and floor boards immediately above.
At least everybody got out and the damage is repairable.
"Installers and owners of emergency diesels must assume that they will have to run for a week or more"
I assume the tablet was being charged. I don’t do it, but anything with a lithium battery should be charged in a metal case, preferably with the charger inside. Lithium batteries are unforgiving when they get cross. Radio control model enthusiasts get to know about battery problems and still leave them on charge and uncovered and unattended. When it’s in a place with easily combusted materials it has led to the total loss of their house.. Even when being charged in a garage there has been substantial damage.
Legislation won’t do it, but thoughts about self preservation may help save someone from suffering.
To become an extremist, hang around with people you agree with. Cass Sunstein
Agree.
The tablet was on charge, and there is a suspicion that the cat may have been sleeping on it, no doubt attracted by the warmth. She has a small burnt patch of fur on her belly but no other injury.
The dog has various superficial burns and more significant burns to front paws, good brave dog to have raised the alarm.
The older child escaped via the front door, the younger child and the parents were rescued from upper windows by the older child with a ladder.
The other 2 cats that were upstairs were tied up in bedding and lowered out of the windows.
"Installers and owners of emergency diesels must assume that they will have to run for a week or more"
Very sorry hear that Adam. Glad it wasn't more serious and repairs are manageable.
I've read a bit about the dangers of malfunctioning Li batteries. These days there are literally 10s of million phones, tablets and laptops, left on charge overnight, under beds, on sofas etc where a couple of decades ago there were ~none. Have we seen a dramatic increase in house fires?
Maybe less smoking (number one cause), less cooking, especially deep fat frying (anyone still have a chip pan?) and better regulations regarding flammable furniture etc have more than offset the new risk posed by Li batteries?
In fact, fire deaths haven been on a long term downward trend, 775 in 1981-82 when comparable figures started being collected to under 300 today (in England).
