Will I help the environment?

[Bewlay Bros]

As I feel guilty about my carbon footprint, can anybody tell me if switching radiators off in room I do not enter (spare bedrooms,bathrooms etc) will save energy?

As the hot water is on a big circle, I am unsure as the heated water will have to pass through the pipes below the unused radiator anyway.

To quote Tesco, but for carbon emissions, "Every little helps"

Thank you.

[legend761]

yes it will help.

[wol]

but can we be sure? Or are we being conned again?
Are we sure this global warming thing isn't just a natural phenomenon? Hasn't the world just been warming up sinece the last ice age?

[4getmenot]

I don�t have a carbon footprint as I drive everywhere :-)

[johnny.5]

perhaps in the short term but maybe not in the long term as any unused or only used sometimes will ssuffer more and need replacing more often and are more likely to fail causing even more problems especially if they leak

[Bewlay Bros]

As a complete science ignoramus, I will say that weather systems are, to quote a poor person, "well frucked up".

When I was a child you knew it was going to be hot in the summer and snowy cold in the winter. It was that simple. Nowadays, it is Sahara like sun one day then like a scene for the days of Noah's Ark the next during the summer.

And as for winter, I can not remember the last time I had decent snow.

Something is going on if 20-30 years only has changed our climate in the grand scheme on things.

[DJerba]

Bewlay I thought you were an intelligent man it will reduce your foot print and your payouts

[Goodsoulette]

Wol, if you aren't concerned about the environment and handing down a cleaner planet with some natural resources left for the next couple of generations, then maybe you could worry about your pocket.

All the green sites suggest that you should have your hot water set at 60 degrees, any hotter isnt needed. All rooms that are empty/unused should have the heating off and doors shut. By turning down your central heating just one degree that will save you nearly 50 quid a year. It is estimated that the average household wastes �1 for every �3.50 spent on energy.

Thank goodness there are those that do care to mop up the mess of those that do not.

[cazzz1975]

not necessarily bewlay, a lot of the freak weather is not unusual at all, infact non seasonal weather of late has been caused by the jet stream being slightly out of synch.

this type of thing has been recorded frequently since records began, not denying global warmings existance
but people also need to not panic about the weather in general.

reducing your usage of power is good, turning off your tv.s dvd,s ect instead of leaving them on standby, cutting the amount you drive, recycling your rubbish are just a few things that make a big difference

[Skreecheeboy]

Just put on a jumper if you're cold!

[landscaper2]

I'm with wol. We are in the 'blame and scaremonger culture'. I really dont know if we are to blame or not for the apparent global warming. However, if the scaremongerers make us more aware of our environment, then great. What I dispise is that governments jump on the bandwagon and look at it as a way of justifying more taxes by making us ALL feel as guilty as hell for ruining this lovely planet.

[society]

Wardy since you feel guilty about your carbon footprint , do you also feel guilty about breathing out carbon dioxide?

Yes, switching off radiators will definitely save energy and money.

[Bewlay Bros]

One reason why I believe the scientists who argue that global warming is happenning, is the way the Government deal with it.

Although I despise almost everything Labour and the one-eyed scotch freak who runs the country stand for, it has to be said that they have spent millions on measures to at least attempt to address the issue.

And all this has been done with fairly little expense. Yes, the congestion charge in London may be a stealth tax, and my car tax is rather high compared to small green cars, but apart from that most the measures have not hit my pocket.

My council tax would have gone up anyway if they never introduced the eco bins they gave me. All my water meters were fitted free, I have had free energy rating surveys, etc etc etc.

In a country that even taxes the bloody dead, why are they seemingly do stuff for free? There must be a firm belief somewhere in the ministry of the enviroment. With this in mind, I am fairly green in my outlook and although I may have a lifestyle which would make a greenpeace marxist have nightmares, my overall carbon footprint is getting better and better.

Although I haven't flown for a short while, my last flight cost a little more so some tree could be planted to offset my footprint.

And I have decided not to heat the pool at all in the winter!!!

[beryllium]

'Ello Bewlay :D
I do have a question please. Does this mean you support nuclear energy for this country? and where do you propose they build the plants?.....

btw.... our solar has been brilliant this year lol and today the water is at 34 degrees without having to switch on the boiler.

Regards.

Tree Hugger :D xxx

[Bewlay Bros]

I am totally in favour of nuclear energy. Considering we have had the bomb for 50 odd years and there has been no lapse in security or any leaks, I am ceratin a nuclear power point will be kept in the same tight, foolproof way.

I am also a big advocate of wind power and believe the existing ones and the new designs for the Kent coast actually make the enviroment look wonderful. Brunel will be jealous!!!

[beryllium]

The problem with nuclear power is how do you get rid of the waste?

I love the wind turbines aswell and will aim to have photovoltaic installed when they improve it a bit more :D

[rabbitygirl]

All forms of power have a negative and a positive(!) Nuclear power plants are rarely mentioned because it gives people the colly wobbles but many countries see them as the only way to adequately supply their countries needs and build new and extra to replace the old. Unlike us. Eventually the powers that be will just have to upset people and build them.

[Goodsoulette]

Nuclear energy is a false environmentally friendly source of power. Firstly there is the huge carbon footprint used to mine the uranium. Not only that, uranium is constantly leaking. its never safe. Even the granite blocks in our up and running power stations are showing cracks so they wont last until the projected 2020. There wont be more nuclear power stations built in that time to cover this shortfall so we will be falling back on fossil fuels again.
Let's not forget the carbon footprint that is used to then store all the waste, and then there's the risks of reclaimed uranium and plutonium.

I think this is where we are being conned, conned into believing that nuclear power is the answe to all our environmental issues. WHo wants to live nect to a power plant though? Have you seen what happens to the sealife around the plant?

I would much, much rather see windfarms and tidal barriers. If they built one acroos the river severn between England and Wales, the energy from that would power much of the south and west of England and southern Wales. It's time to start thinking about this.