kevinjohnsonmbe

Very nice!

Mate, I hope that didn't come across as trying to contradict your points, or be picky, it wasn't meant as such. Any frustration I have is singularly with DECC which, as a department, I hold in low regard because of the empty promises over the past 3 years. To be completely honest, I have no regrets going biomass (I am a big fan) and would still advocate the change if someone has a suitable set of requirements / circumstances. The RHI would have been the cherry on top of the cake if it had been delivered as and when it was originally proposed. I still feel like I've got the cake, maybe (some of) the cherry will come later but I'm not holding my breath!

RHI was rolled out 2 years ago (for commercial installations) and was supposed to be followed immediately by the "domestic" roll out. The domestic roll out has been deferred, depleted and diminished with every subsequent DECC press release. It is STILL subject to parliamentary approval even in its current significantly diminished proposed format. I have totally lost faith in the will, competence, desire or ability of DECC to deliver this policy since I have watched it being systematically watered down over the past 3 years. I would caution anyone basing their installation and through life costings on the figures from DECC (and trotted out by installers / suppliers) to be vary wary of this element of "pay-back" on the investment.

Soz! I went wrong there! RHPP was that grant payable on qualifying installation. RHI is the (fictional) future payment. Got all over excited!

We did an extension 2011. We had to replace the (almost) 30 year old oil boiler so went for biomass (pellets) because that worked best for our situation. Looked at log boilers but they do need a bit more on site attention on a daily basis where as a pellet boiler can be left for weeks without any physical intervention. I did a lot of research and got well clued up on the whole deal. I'm still a keen advocate but am seriously disenfranchised from any DECC (and installer / manufacturer associated BS based on fictional DECC promises that will help them paint a glowing picture of the paybacks available and gain sales - why? Because that line was around almost 3 years ago and it still hasn't materialised.) If you can, ensure as much of the building work you are doing is directly associated with the boiler installation, with a bit of thought and planning, you might be able to bring VAT down from 20 to 5% for more of your build than you might have expected. Really happy to have a yarn on the phone if you want to hear our experience?? PM me I'll send my number over if you want to.

Hope you don't mind, and come back if you disagree, but I just wanted to amplify a couple of the points you've made (from personal experience.) VAT (possibly including any additional building or installation costs depending upon how the project is delivered should be 5% rather than 20% as its associated with a so-called renewable technology - anyone considering an instal should make sure they check this properly for themselves so that the installer isn't creaming the difference) Your phrase - "soon to be released RHI grants", the grants have been available for >2 yrs. Are you alluding to the (domestic) Renewable Heat Premium Payment (RHPP) which DECC have been prevaricating over for the past 3 years and is likely to be rolled out when monkeys fly out of my ass? And when (if) they do roll it out, the RHPP is likely to be graded according to the energy efficiency of your house so cavity wall insulation, double glazing, loft insulation etc will all equate to qualification on a higher tier of payment. Conversely, the absence of any of these will drop you a level - similar to the current solar PV qualifying levels. Also, the original DECC commitment to 20 years of qualifying payments has been slashed too. Can't remember what the current (empty) promise is at the moment but the usual BS is available on DECC's website. It's a fairly bold claim to state 3-7k RHPP p/a either way! You mention that "some manufacturers" recommend against an accumulator. That's a really strange comment which would warrant some clarification. Without an accumulator how are you storing heat for when the radiators draw down? Can't tell from your post if you are in favour of accumulator or not? From my experience, I wish I'd had a bigger thermal store and may well retro-fit more capacity when time permits.

Just like magic[/b], works every time! Conversely, after a nice Ash (for example), if it doesn't all go back to the yard on the day it's left in the biggest possible chunks to give the timber fairies a hernia!!

The great barter system! Can't beat it!! Everyone one (except those that shall not be mentioned) get a slice of cake

Good thread! I've had similar oil seepage, a bit annoying but not too troublesome. Will have a strip and inspection.

I will Martin, not because I'm bored but because I'm frustrated by my lack of understanding of the dark art of sparkying! Cheers!!

Apologies for de-rail (don't read this post unless you are Big J!!) Wish I'd known you were in Plymouth! We might have been able to catch up and you could have had a look at my flooring project in the old cow shed! I'm still a little way off from thinking of boards but will be in touch.

Good on you! Rather envious!! Best of luck for the future!!!

What language is this???? Laughing at my own ignorance, I have NO IDEA what this means!! Good thread from the lecky man! May be in touch to source a home stand-by set soon....

Bob, I'm in the market for one at the moment if you've got one you want rid of?

Thanks for chat earlier, I'll get onto it in the new year!

Just about to send you a PM!

Thumb-up!

If it were a case of "white lies" on an application form to achieve an otherwise unlikely planning decision (or avoid conditions), Pecuniary gain through false representation might be appropriate (if the LA were minded to pursue it?)

Fair one. I don't know and haven't had time to check (and in any case, it would have to be specific to that LA as you say.). I've observed with interest the thread as it's developed. The desire for an academically pure answer to the scenario seems to have far out stripped the OP's original interest in the debate (that's only an assumption since the OP appears to have dropped out - maybe they got what they needed??) I liked your earlier post advocating the "real world" solution would be best achieved by interested parties sitting down and doing that old fashioned thing - talking! I can also see the value in drilling right down to the finer details of who did what to who, who should have done what, who didn't do what they should have done (as far as is possible in this case with limited facts / history / documents etc) It's been a good one!

That's the money shot! We'll done Sylvia!!

That's an interesting point! Don't suppose you remember any detail we could look up?

Who said it might not be hypothetical for long?? A row of 20 TPO'd,1912 planted, prominent skyline Monterey I was asked to look at last week (had TO on site to fast track a 5 day exemption to TPO application which was approved.) Dreadful condition, dead wood, hanging branches etc over footpath, domestic drive, garages & railway embankment, no history of any TPO apps for pruning / management within 25 yrs of TO's memory. Email tonight to say additional branches down and hanging. So, landowner hasn't taken any proactive steps in at least 25 yrs, now it's a problem, do I (a) dash over and start it tomorrow or (b) leave it til NY when I said I'd do it. The look on my wife's face when I mentioned it was enough for me to know which!

The chances are the customer has been conscious of the potential problem for years.... but wants you to take responsibility tomorrow! Don't do a half assed temp fix that could fail and leave you liable, give them a price, put it in the diary and do the job properly. If it fails before then it's their responsibility for leaving it too long before addressing the potential problem.

Nice one Edward! That is exactly the point I vaguely alluded to on Friday night on the original thread (but couldn't confirm due to my being in hospital.)

Thanks, I like it too, it's a good one to consider occasionally; it offers a sense of perspective and focus on what's REALLY important in my life when things start to get complicated or cluttered.