Why is local renewable electricity generation seen as so desirable by green folk

[Eleanor]

Thinking about the original question "Why is local renewable electricity generation seen as so desirable by green folk"

Maybe part of the reason is that this is the level at which most people can actually make a contribution. If the majority of the energy coming from the grid was generated from renewable sources then it could be argued that it isn't worth installing micro renewables due to economies of size. Unfortunately this isn't the case.
Personally, there is something satisfying about living according to the elements. The last 4 months or so this has been achieved mainly with 160Wp of PV as there hasn't been much wind. It's surprising how little we really need.

I guess we'll just keep squeezing the last drops out of the earth until there really is nothing left 

[martin]

"It's surprising how little we really need" - consider yourself warmly hugged!

[Eleanor]

Oooh, I'm blushing now  I sometimes feel that if we all had to spend some time where the electricity is generated from the elements and learnt to appreciate it we would consume a lot less 

[martin]

AND my experiments lead me to believe that a perfectly satisfactory shower can be had using as little as 3 litres of water at 38 degrees - any more is a luxury.......
(which may explain my spluttering in disbelief at half-hour power showers using bathsfull of scalding water per minute)

[Eleanor]

We have a nice little bath which takes about 15 litres but that would be for two people and then of course the smalls are washed after that 

[KenB]

Eleanor,

Not sure of your exact northern location - but you have had quite a severe winter up there?

You've done very well to manage on 160Wp of pv.

Is your main form of heating wood?   Do you use bottled gas for cooking?

I imagine that if you have sufficient fuel in store to keep you warm, plus hot water, then every other energy usage is a convenient luxury.

I have a similar amount of pv on my shed roof and I keep a 12V battery bank charged. 

We have had some vehicle starting issues this winter,  and no matter what else you do for self preparedness, having a fully charged 12V starter battery available will get you out of most scrapes. This is something I have gotten around to learning the hard way.

With one good starter battery, you will always get the first diesel engine started, and when that's running you can jump start any other vehicle.

I'm tempted to bring a 12V jump-start connection out to copper lugs in a lockable battery box on the front of my house where the vehicles are parked - so that any one can be quickly started or left over night to recharge.  The jump start battery would be charged from the solar pv.  The lockable cabinet would also contain a splash resistant 230V socket so that a small battery charger could be quickly plugged in - it would save trailing extension leads out of windows in wet weather to recharge vehicle batteries. A 13A connection on the drive would also be handy for occasional power tool usage, pressure washer or vacuum cleaner.

Eventually when I get the EV, that would become the EV charging point. I'm currently looking at EV conversions of the Smart Car, with an EV colleague.

I'm back in China at the end of this month, and will look again at the posh load carrying electric trikes they have out there. About £150.



Ken

[Eleanor]

Ken, yes the winter has been more severe than usually experienced here but no worse I think than most of the UK. You are correct in assuming that our heating is wood based and sourced locally. Cooking is by a propane gas cylinder and wood as the stove we have has a small oven (still taming it
though  ).
The gas cylinder (19kg) has lasted about 3 months so far. We really must get round to installing the solar tubes as we would also have free hot water  

I did have quite a few reflective moments when it was a bit snowy and icy about how quickly one could become cold and hungry if not prepared .............

I've been very surprised at the efficacy of PV this winter. We've regularly seen 4A (~100W) for several hours a day from the 160Wp setup. I remember when first posting here a couple of years ago it was all hypothetical and I really had no idea how it would work out (still haven't really  ).

Looking forward to hearing about  EVs as I feel something of that nature would be ideal for the journeys we do most days