Recent content by British Red

Yes please! But also keen to know what you use to consume the power

The (Labour) council has been effectively bankrupt since 2023. They have to make £148,000,000 of savings https://www.itv.com/news/central/2025-02-04/bankrupt-birmingham-confirms-148m-of-council-cuts-in-second-budget-blow The council is deadlocked with the Unite union over savings to waste...

Thanks Tone, I think power independence is something that is becoming much more viable these days as panels become cheaper & battery technology improves. I feel much more comfortable knowing that we have enough power to do most things now (albeit not at the same time!). I would love to be able...

As people were kind enough to enjoy our "solar firewood" thread, I thought some here might enjoy seeing the step by step process of taking our outbuildings off grid. In this video we look at Sizing & designing an installation Selecting a storage & power solution Buying, installing & wiring...

Of course. We have ever rising debt levels, the government are cutting benefits for the most vulnerable to pay rising interest on previous borrowing whilst taking on new, larger, spending commitments. As a society we need to learn to take care of ourselves. It's really no different than paying...

Agreed. Definitely not within 72 hours if the issue is widespread. They haven't the materials, people or plans to cope.

They are, roughly 2m x 1m x 1m. They are "retired" crates from veg harvesting

I wanted them flat because the winds here are fierce (and they roof the firewood). They are putting out over 50% of rated capacity in Winter so I'm not unhappy

That was very much the point I was making. People really don't want to contemplate even short term outages as they prefer life comfortable

I think it's a great exercise to turn everything off for 48 hours. No mains water shows how silly 6 litre a day estimates are

It does but many people simply now expect that things will be done for them. I recall major, prolonged power cuts following a storm about 20 years ago in Cheshire. Guy on the TV saying "my children have had nothing hot to eat for 3 days". He was interviewed in the garden of his house. There was...

Some referred to the Ukraine war as "500 million Europeans are waiting for 340 million Americans to protect them from 140 million Russians who haven't been able to win against 40 million Ukrainians in 3 years. " I think that Europe could protect itself very well indeed if it had the will to do so

Sure. I don't think they have this exact model at the moment but they have many good deals...

Today, we completed a tiny self reliance step with which I am inordinately pleased Log stack by English Countrylife, on Flickr The logs here are sustainable local wood. Blowdowns, dead trees, line hazards etc. The crates are old veg crates too rickety to use for harvest but fine for log...

I love thread drift. We are talking trees - why on earth would I mind?