Very off topic: Wind Farms

[willofgod]

This is very off topic I know, but I'd like to see what others think about generating electricity using wind farms. According to this article at the Beeb:

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most people hate wind farms... because they are ugly... I dont think so at all, I certainly dont think they are an eye sore. My view is they are quite beautiful.

So what do you think?

[Rogue_Trooper]

You and Falky should be locked in a padded room...so you can discuss wind mills and telegraph poles to your hearts content :roll: :wink: :lol:

[r1ncewind]

i find them quite relaxing to watch and listen to.

[Ech0]

I couldn't find the button "They are neither but they are useful" and oddly enough that's the one I would of pressed.

The Swedes are going to launch a wave powered generator off the west coast this autumn. They have high hopes for it.

I'll see if I can find a link for you if you are interested or perhaps you only like them because it reminds you of the Teletubbies?

Wave power:

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Teletubbies:

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[Maggot]

I think this kind of depends on whether you live near them.

If you don't then yeah they could be seen as beautiful, silent things with a kind of slow sweep to them.

If you live near them I think you'd find that it was probably prettier before they were put up, and also they are not at all quiet.

I've seen these in Norfolk and thought them pretty cool, but I've also driven through small villages who were adamantly protesting their being built nearby.

On an island such as us you'd think that wave power would be a viable alternative.

[willofgod]

Noise would be the only thing putting me off. As long as they were far enough away from my house that I couldn't hear them, or that they weren't intersively noisy I'd be ok with having them nearby. Although I wouldn't like them to be any closer than couple of hundred metres or so.

BTW. I was adding a similar option that that Ech0, but it didn't get included. I clicked SUBMIT thinking it would add the new option and create the post, but it obviously only performed the latter!

[Spitfire]

Just fuel the boilers with all the un-bought rovers, torch them to make steam. then sell the steam.



The energy efficient recycled MG,


Beware the fumes thou, shit stinks



:wink: :wink: :wink: :wink: :wink: :wink:

[russellg81]

Gayest Thread Ever



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[Ech0]

Gayest Thread Ever

Says a man who'd be fucked without electrickery.

Have to agree with you though Russ, get a grip Willo ffs!!!

[imported_mrcol]

Yes, they do ruin the landscape... but if you go with that line of thinking... so does most development. Considering it's a sustainable rewable energy source, i think it is worth it.

[willofgod]

I did say it was off-topic!

I'll do another post to make up for it.

[Falkwing]

Off-topic, Willo, but a hotly debated subject where I live.

Next near my home town will play host to the largest (to date) off-shore wind farm. There has been a fierce debate over the installation, with bitterly opposed veiws.

Personally I hate the idea of the beautiful Welsh seascape being ruined by a thirty-strong clutch of 300 metre-high wind turbines. "NIMBY" (Not in My Back Yard) was the "name" people in favour of the bloody thing called opposers, and I am very happy to be called a NIMBY - if that means I love the natural heritage of South Wales.

Don't get me wrong - I am all in favour of reducing carbon emissions, but let's do it from another angle. Instead of struggling to maintain our energy-greedy way of life, lets cut down on the use of power, and treat it like a precious resource. A simple calculation (aparently) shows that if everyone used energy-efficiect lightbulbs in the UK it would save more carbon emissions as all the UK wind farms put together.

In conclusion, ladies and gentlemen, I would say I am in favour of wind farms if they can be placed where they don't bother anyone - the top of the Brecon Beacons comes to mind - no-one lives there, apart from a few hundred sheep. :wink:

[Necro]

I live near a nuclear power station - give me windmills anytime.

[pup]

good point necro, not heard of a wind farm creating the disaster chernobyl did

[imported_mrcol]

now i understand why falky had to get up so early to go home from Blackpool... Horse & Cart :D

[Wags]

Falky said: the top of the Brecon Beacons comes to mind

I hope that was a joke Falky :wink: .Brecon is IMHO one of the most beautiful areas of South Wales. I enjoyed many a weekend walking around there when I was at the University of Glamorgan.

It's also used alot by the SAS for survival training, so I reckon that makes me even 'arder than Mr Col :roll:

[willofgod]

Did you know that for about ten grand you can have a well sunk in your back garden with a heat exchanger and pump at ground level to use geothermal heating for your home? Big payout initially, but you get nearly free heating for the rest of your life.

The only problem is they cant gurantee to hit a hot spot, so you could end up with nowt! Bit risky at ten grand a shot!

[pup]

you sure that wasnt from Armageddon?

[imported_mrcol]

from what i know of these exchangers, they are layen flat and not vertical a few feet underground..... they are fookin huge, not the kinda thing that'll fit in everyones garden.

Most will generate ample HEAT to sustain what most would consider room temps in colder months, however you still need a wee top up on the really cold days.

Not convinced that they'll help much in Scotland though... only time our ground has anything worth exchanging is in the summer and we dont need our heating as much then :D

Here's a nice array of exchangers that might do the trick :)

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[pup]

you buggers dont even feel the cold

i remember one time we was going to go up Ben Nevis in winter time and you turned around to me and said "you might need a jacket at the top"

!?!?!?!?

i was like Jeese man, i need a jacket in your front room never mind up Ben Nevis!

[trust]

you buggers dont even feel the cold



It's nearly summer up here in good temperatures of 7 degrees celcius :D only a wee drop drizzle at the moment :)

Time for the "T" shirts and shorts :P
:lol: :lol:

[willofgod]

It always amazes me how people in this country dont protect themselves from the cold. I lost count of the number of times Villan had a dig at me for wearing gloves and a scarf in the middle of winter (and Blackpool). While I might add he had his hands burried in his coat pockets and head sunken into his collar...

I for one want to keep some dexterity in my mits well into old age, and if wearing gloves helps, then thats what I'll do.


....God I'm boring!

[r1ncewind]

these hole's in the ground thing.
in my area they are called toilets. :)

not only boring willo, but quite gay as well. :wink:

[willofgod]

Thanks for your support Rince!

[Villan]

Gay & boring, but topical:

A public inquiry into proposals to site one of England's largest wind farms in Cumbria has begun.

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[willofgod]

About 8k then to heat your home from the ground (was 10k last time I looked):

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[r1ncewind]

is this thread ever going to end? :?

[trust]

probably not :(

[willofgod]

Asking that question has kept it alive Rince... And if you answer this it'll live a bit longer, and there is also the chance I might respond again. Hehehe, can yee resist?