Archive for February, 2007
So you’re sitting out there wanting to be a bit more environmentally savvy, and not knowing how to go about it? Well, the People’s Republic of South Devon in conjunction with those wise old heads at Bovey Climate Action are bringing you the real environmental answers. Today, it’s part 2 of the solar panel conundrum.
SOLAR HEATING PANELS:
‘This seems to be the real success story! These panels do not generate electricity - they are designed to trap and collect heat in special glass tubes. The heat is then used to provide domestic hot water.
The big win here is that the modern solar collector tubes seem to work (a bit) even on, cold, dull cloudy days - and if they help raise the water temperature by one degree, it’s “free” and means you are burning less gas or electricity to heat your domestic hot water.
Most people report that their solar heating panels provide plenty of hot water right through most of the year. Just about everyone I know with solar heating panels report savings on their gas and electricity bills and felt it was a worthwhile investment.’
So sayeth Bovey Climate Action, and so sayeth us at the People’s Republic of South Devon - the only difference is our mouths are open and we’re just nodding.
Posted by Cptn
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February 21st, 2007
Welcome all to the wonderful world of the Melting Pot podcast, featuring the Madrips, Bosshole, Atrio and Leon Fazy.
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February 21st, 2007
In the first of a series of environmental answers provided for us by the dynamic and ever-growing Bovey Climate Action, we take a look at the truth behind solar panels, and yes, there is a need to be so dramatic.
Solar panels, the truth part one:
First there are two types of panels you will see on people’s houses:
1)”Photo voltaic” [Convert sunlight into DC electricity] and (today’s offering)
2)”Solar Heating” [Capture sunlight and provide a means to heat water] (err, check us out tomorrow for more on solar heating.
PHOTO VOLTAIC SOLAR PANELS:
Unless you are willing to invest some serious money (several thousand
pounds) into a large number of Photo Voltaic panels, storage batteries, inverter and a battery management system - one or two Photo Voltaic panels will not provide anything like enough energy to run your house!
Sadly, there is a misconception that you can stick a couple of PV panels on your roof and start selling your surplus electricity back to the power company. This is simply not the case.
To put things in perspective - on a sunny day a typical PV solar panel (costing £300-£500) might generate enough electricity to light a single 40 watt light bulb (While the sun is shining.) - If anyone has electricity to sell after this, I would suggest they get out more often!
What PV panels are great for is charging batteries. With a large capacity bank of batteries and a device called an “inverter” [converts battery DC voltage into household AC voltage] - it is possible to top up the battery bank with the PV solar panels and then use the energy stored in the batteries to provide a burst of energy to power household appliances and perhaps low energy lighting.
Unless you have a sizable array of PV Panels (say 12 or more) and a large battery bank, PV Solar Panels are not that practical for the average home user. Also they generate energy only during the day and work best when it is sunny (we do not live in Spain!).
These facts do not stop salesmen from selling very expensive PV panels to the unaware! If anyone is serious about installing PV Solar Panels - put them in touch and we will be happy to give them good advice on what to expect and the real cost of ownership.
This wonderfully informative column has been provided by Bovey Climate Action, check ‘em out.
Posted by Cptn
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February 20th, 2007
The big question is: can creativity affect social change? It’s kinda like a living experiment for us here at the People’s Republic of South Devon, but if you want to check out what the rest of the world is thinking, turn up to tomorrow’s debate at the Exeter Phoenix.
As part of Animated Exeter, the debate is under the auspices of the Big Small People project and looks at the impact of animation as an instrument of social change for children’s rights.
The Animated Festival is in full throw at the moment so you should go down and check out at least some of the stuff because it’s ace. And that’s as official as it gets.
The debate will last around 90 minutes, kicks off at 6pm and costs £6 or £5, depending.
Posted by Cptn
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February 19th, 2007
There’s still time to catch Slow at the Plymouth Arts Centre. The exhibition, which pays homage to the conceptual art of the 1960s and ’70s, runs, or rather saunters, until March 19.
Among the fascinating exhibits is one from Lau Thiamkok. In his piece Kirby, Plymouth is romanticised, fictionalised and poeticalised (err made poetic) through the lights of houses, steetlamps, windows and ‘the fictive flying light’ (which is perhaps one of those laser pointer pens that were so popular a few years back).
He’s also showing Ideas of Poetic, a working investigation in what the poetic can be and Philosophy of Ghosts, an attempt to answer a whole slew of philosophical questions including ‘why does it exist rather than nothing’, which is a something we’ve all asked about UKIP before.
posted by Cptn
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February 18th, 2007
Listening to people who deny climate change is quite amusing - if you can manage to discern a few words from between the grunts (just wait till these guys get on to recycling). But climate change is a real issue and it’s nice to see some people rolling up their sleeves and actually doing something about it.
Bovey Climate Action has produced a new funky newsletter to keep you in the loop of what they’re getting up to as well as other bits of news, views and brick-bats for general info on the environment.
And the gang is spreading much further than Bovey Tracey and is having dealings with groups throughout Dartmoor, possibly making it the greenest of National Parks.
So check out the site, it’s initiatives and take heart from its growing success, and the next time someone grunts their eco-unfriendly attitude to you, you know where to point them.
Posted by Cptn
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February 17th, 2007
Find out how and what other arthouse films are on in the region in the inimitable arthouse roundup on D+CFilm. There are loads of links and trailers, everything you need to make the right decision about Saturday night at the movies.
Posted by Cptn
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February 16th, 2007
First there were ’super casinos’ now Torbay is pushing for Geopark status - but wait, a geopark isn’t all themed water slides and nacho stores, it’s to do with geology (which isn’t altogether far duller actually).
It will be the second time the Bay area has applied for the moniker, but this time the whole crew is better prepared (erm 40 million years in the making anyone?). The bid has been sealed and sent to the Geopark conference in France.
What happens next?
Good question. Well, the European Geopark Network will meet in April when they will appoint one of their existing members to carry out an inspection visit. A decision will be reached, and announced at the European Geopark Network conference in September.
In the meantime expect a whole load of geology-based events to be kick off.
Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust Education Ranger Mel Border, who co-ordinated the application, told the People’s Republic: ‘The Trust has planned 26 walks, boat trips and children’s events and many of the partner organizations will be running additional events throughout the summer. While we wait for news of the bid we will also be working to increase the number of school groups taking part in geology based visits, and putting together a new geology trail that will link the four gateway sites; Berry Head National Nature Reserve, the Seashore Centre at Goodrington, Babbacombe and Kent’s Cavern.’
Rock on!
Posted by Cptn
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February 15th, 2007
Just in case you forgot, the NHS is in crisis, signatures are being sought for a Plymouth petition to be put in front of MPs on February 19 - seek them out and sign. And if you’re organising any kind of demonstration, thank goodness for the EU because apparently you have to bring your own Pole.
Posted by Cptn
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February 13th, 2007
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