Alternative Energy Sources

A question about : Alternative Energy Sources

I would be grateful if anyone has information on or experience of alternative energy sources and their costs and efficiency. I am thinking particularly of wind power, solar energy (both through heat exchange and photovoltaic cells), thermal extraction from underground pipes etc., all in a domestic context. I am also interested in opinions about underfloor heating versus conventional radiators and what are the most efficient gas heating boilers currently on the market. I am also in the process of looking at extending my bungalow and altering the internal layout to optimise the efficient use of the space, are there any tips about ways of doing this to improve the thermal efficiency of the house?

Thanks in anticipation

Spike

Best answers:

• Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere(please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email abuse@moneysavingexpert.com.
• My we are getting sensitive! You really should not assume that my opinion on the cost effectiveness of solar heating is a criticism of your choice to fit a system.
  You may well “hate all the talk about payback". However the original poster asked for information about the “costs and efficiency” of renewable energy and my reply was in that vein.
  A couple of points:
  You have no idea of my attitude toward environmental issues; so there is little point in basing your argument on supposition.
  I pointed out that there are many cowboys in this field – read posts in this forum and do some research on the web to verify. Who implied the installer who fitted your system was other than the most brilliant and well qualified engineer? Again it is pointless for you to defend a criticism that was not made or implied.
  I did look at the link you posted and was distinctly unimpressed. It is the web equivalent of a glossy brochure extolling the virtues of renewable energy and saying what a great firm they are. Full of trivia like “Sahara had extraordinary rains in 2003 leading to a massive plague of locusts in West & North Africa in 2004 which reached as far as Italy”
  If you want a grown-up debate on “alternative energy sources” by all means let’s have one. However to raise my trips across the Atlantic! - hardly Oxford Union material is it?
• guys i would love a bit more info on this
  i'm thinking about solar heating for a new house
  house will be lpg
  therefore any payback would be in less than half the time
  also should be able to save on installation (as its a new house)
  meadowcat could you please advise on what make of panels you had installed
  also do you know if solar heating can be installed with system boilers?
• Hi, if you pm me your email addy I have some plans for a wind turbine if that's any help?