Comments on: Zero-carbon homes may look nice but they aren’t cheap http://www.carboncommentary.com/2008/01/14/69 A critical appraisal of issues in the move to a low-carbon economy Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:02:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: The Potton “Lighthouse” | Silver Spray, Droskyn Point, Perranporth, Cornwall. http://www.carboncommentary.com/2008/01/14/69/comment-page-1#comment-4007 The Potton “Lighthouse” | Silver Spray, Droskyn Point, Perranporth, Cornwall. Mon, 01 Aug 2011 10:22:33 +0000 http://www.carboncommentary.com/2008/01/14/69#comment-4007 [...] An article comparing the cost of Green Houses to those that are more or less ‘”green”. http://www.carboncommentary.com/2008/01/14/69 [...] [...] An article comparing the cost of Green Houses to those that are more or less ‘”green”. http://www.carboncommentary.com/2008/01/14/69 [...]

]]> By: Alessandro de maida http://www.carboncommentary.com/2008/01/14/69/comment-page-1#comment-3984 Alessandro de maida Tue, 19 Jul 2011 21:14:30 +0000 http://www.carboncommentary.com/2008/01/14/69#comment-3984 tim, actually a solar thermal plant for hot water (unlike PV for electricity) is indeed a very good idea even in an UK context, a few m^2 are enough for a family of 3 or 4 and the bugdet needed is really modest tim,
actually a solar thermal plant for hot water (unlike PV for electricity) is indeed a very good idea even in an UK context, a few m^2 are enough for a family of 3 or 4 and the bugdet needed is really modest

]]> By: tim bastable http://www.carboncommentary.com/2008/01/14/69/comment-page-1#comment-3972 tim bastable Mon, 11 Jul 2011 07:18:01 +0000 http://www.carboncommentary.com/2008/01/14/69#comment-3972 the notion that "carbon costs needs to be offset by( in house) electricity generation" is ludicrous - domestic solar panels are probably the worst renewable option on the market - it would be far cheaper for builders to invest in adequate low carbon energy generation off-site. Solar panels represent an massive over simplification of the renewables problem - in the UK at the moment they develop an EROEI of about 4:1 at best and represent massively poor value for money. The solar panel issue is symptomatic of lack of focus in the sustainability debate. The issue is "bangs for bucks" and investment in retrofitting the existing housing stock, smart metering and grids will deliver far higher carbon savings than the development of a level 6 building standard. the notion that “carbon costs needs to be offset by( in house) electricity generation” is ludicrous – domestic solar panels are probably the worst renewable option on the market – it would be far cheaper for builders to invest in adequate low carbon energy generation off-site.

Solar panels represent an massive over simplification of the renewables problem – in the UK at the moment they develop an EROEI of about 4:1 at best and represent massively poor value for money.

The solar panel issue is symptomatic of lack of focus in the sustainability debate. The issue is “bangs for bucks” and investment in retrofitting the existing housing stock, smart metering and grids will deliver far higher carbon savings than the development of a level 6 building standard.

]]>