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Renewable alternatives [print version] Having read Dan Cheech’s letter on the subject of Renewable energy (Metro, 10th November), may I offer a slightly less pessimistic outlook. I had pondered much the same questions, but as an engineer, I have been using my professional knowledge to trial alternatives. Use of efficient fittings and disciplined use had reduced my daily electricity consumption to a base load of 1.2 units per day, with an additional 2.5 used on washday once per week. Rather than spend several thousand pounds on a plasma TV set, I set about building a renewable installation to meet my base load, and after a winter of tinkering, four panels, a battery store, inverter and changeover started generating in mid March. On average this has met half my total electricity requirements; in mid summer I was off supply maybe a day a week or a day a fortnight, and with the arrival of additional panels last week I am busy finding out how far into winter I can keep the solar supply available. The system, very much a prototype to prove the basic idea has succeeded in meeting my base load, with electricity being imported one day a week for the weekly clothes wash. The conclusion: reduce and replace is the way forwards, reduce the overall consumption and replace polluting means with benign ones. Rowan Langley |
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