8.10.05

Condensing Boiler

On top of everything else, I fiddled with the old boiler... I didn't mean to, honest! Anyways, after 18 years I guess it's time it was replaced. Plus it makes sense to do it at the same time as getting the water-meter fitted. The governemnt's finally made condensing boilers mandatory and we managed to get a discount through our local EEAC (see www.est.co.uk). It was installed quite professionally except that the dude didn't bother to insulate the hot water pipes... another job for me then! The neighbours are complaining about the mist from the flue - claiming that it spoils the view from their kitchen window. Now I know how windfarm owners feel! Speaking of which, Ecotricity is proving that green doesn't necessarily mean nice. They've been targeting shareholders of rival renewable energy customers, providing us with a complimentary copy of The Ecologist - which just happens to have an article touting them as the greenest, keenest supplier of the lot. I thought their (Ecotricity's) remarks about Good Energy were pretty unjustified (and no that's not just because I happen to be a shareholder) but then again - a little healthy competition never did anyone any real harm.
Anyways, back to the water meter - I find it quite bizarre that water isn't usually metered in Britain (well at least in highly urbanised areas) so I decided to be pro-active and get one installed. It's small, free & usually pretty straightforward - although Thames Water needed a lot of chasing and everyone I spoke to tried to fob me off to someone else - OK, so it's only straightforward in theory, but at least we don't have to subsidise the watering of our neighbours' plants anymore!






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