Sustainable Energy Ireland ~ Grants
Comments(7)
I’ve been looking at the options available to me in making Paddy’s Place more environmentally friendly, more self-sufficient and more energy efficient when the property finally falls into my hands.
I reckon that a solid fuel stove will be my main source of heating … it will have a back boiler and will take coal, wood and turf. It will have a hot plate on which to boil a kettle etc.
I’m actively looking at wind power turbines as an independent source of electricity and looking at selling the excess to the E.S.B. It amazes me that there are no grants available for this purpose.
There are grants available for:
- Solar heating – for space heating and/or hot water.
- Heat pump – horizontal collector, vertical collector, well water or air source.
- Wood Chip or Pellet stoves – with or without integral boiler.
- Wood Chip or Pellet boilers.
- Wood Gasification Boilers.
But no grants for installing a wind turbine. Go figure!
Until I get access to the property I can’t fully decide how to approach things …. but my ‘list’ thus far:
- Trim, cut and make safe the trees around the house. Some have already fallen and others are in precarious positions.
- Tidy/Fix the boundary ditches … put in some hedging where/if necessary.
- Check the roof …. aim for replacement if necessary.
- Start upstairs … remodel, insulate and redesign if necessary
- Downstairs … remodel, look at heating options etc.
- Long term: knock and rebuild bathroom addition, perhaps making it larger with a utility and a back door. No more than that …. cos the idea is to downsize not enlarge.
- Perhaps build a fuel store – I’ll need some place to store the wood, turf and coal!
All the above is subject to change …. I must wait ’til the place is signed, sealed and delivered to me before I can make any firm plans.
My money is ready … it’s the vendor and his solicitor who need to get their skates on!
Sorry – IE 8 – never...
Grandad? never f”!i** mind...
Wood burning stoves rock.
We’ve had one for 2 winters and it is invaluable. They don’t give grants for the stoves as you can burn coal in them, which is a bit of a gyp I think.
The one I got is a Villager, I bought it from Smyths in Mullingar.
Pland a stand of sycamore ash or willow nearby, they are good farst growing trees and certainly willow coppices well.
Paddy take a read at this:
http://www.insideview.ie/irisheyes/2009/02/no-bq-wind-turbine.html
Our Government in its wisdom ceased grants for solar heating panels . . work that one out in a country where the sun shines 90% of the time! We do get grants for installing water tanks tho . . not a problem in your neck of the woods. Don’t forget insulation, keeps heating/cooling costs way down. We also have an Envirocycle a sort of mini sewerage system so that grey water can be pumped on the garden rather than down the sewer and it doesn’t smell bad like a septic tank can. Hope your vendor comes good soon!
Oh I forgot to mention. If you put water saving shower heads and aerators on all your taps, you’ll save a shitload in water and heating bills.
Paddy,
Years ago, we bought a cast iron stove (a Jotul) very like the one in your pic but we got it converted to natural gas as we’re not allowed burn wood here.
It was a godsend last week when our central heating boiler broke down for four days in the freezing temps. We survived by leaving the stove on low day and night to keep some warmth in the house.
One day we hope to retire to our own dream cottage bringing the Jotul with us where we’ll convert it back to a solid fuel stove and live off the land
Have Jotul will travel ….
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