Week 7 More of the same

Week 7 More of the Same

More insulation in our apartment

First remove the heating

Framework for "breathable" membrane

Then thicker framework to house the insulation

Then "non-breathable" membrane - with joints also sealed

Then cover it all with Oriented Strand Board (OSB) as backing for the plaster sheets

Mini compressor to staple the OSB - I bought it for the boat, but it is very handy here as well

Have to put the plaster in next week - and dress the windows - just enough room for the 2100mm beds!

It's a much longer job than it looks - but luckily we have no pressure to get the heating back on - it's not freezing and we normally sleep without heating in any case - it's more to keep the "whole" at a constant temperature to avoid condensation and/or mildew.

I damaged my jigsaw a few weeks ago so I managed to convince Janny that I needed a new one :))

I've mostly had "hobby" tools but over the last few years I have upgraded to the next level - always with the thought "why didn't I always have this...?"

And so it is with the jigsaw - uses the same batteries as my two big drills (which I bought as a set on "special"). I think any future purchases will also be battery operated. The prices are not so outrageous if you don't have to buy the batteries and charger as well.

Also more of the same with the house - it is really taking shape now, albeit slowly. The kitchen is booked to be installed at the end of May.

The bricklayer is very good at his work - he has his music blaring and quite often sings along :))

From the News

Shrubs and flowers are a month earlier than 50 years ago (this is now "official"). It really just confirms what we have seen with our own plants.

This one could well be fake news (who knows these days?)

It was reported that an Animal Rights group wants to ban merry-go-round horses because it gives the wrong impression...

solar panels

I went to bed on Monday night thinking (and saying) "I don't understand - it is just not "right" - as in distinguishing between the right thing to do and the wrong thing to do - a simple philosophy, really.

The political discussion was about "netting" - getting compensated for electricity generated by solar panels...

this from nu.nl

This is what it is "supposed" to be...

 What exactly is netting?

People who have solar panels on their roof can completely offset the energy they generate themselves against their consumption. That's called netting.

For example, if you consume 3,000 kilowatt hours annually and generate 2,500 kilowatt hours yourself, you only pay for 500 kilowatt hours of electricity.

You don't have to pay tax on those 2,500 kilowatt hours. Not even if you do not use that power directly from your own panels, but take it from the electricity grid when the sun is not shining.

If you generate more electricity than you consume, you will also receive compensation from the energy supplier for supplying it back.

But many of the Energy companies are starting to charge people for "using" their grid to transport their electricity - (this might be a bit basic, but the upshot is that they have discovered that they can charge people who generate the electricity). Which negates the Governments "netting" scheme.

Of course the Government has also woken up to the fact of losing tax.

RADAR, a Consumer Program on TV (right click translate to English)

https://radar.avrotros.nl/artikel/energiemaatschappijen-rekenen-terugleverkosten-nu-al-door-aan-zonnepaneelbezitter-60206

They gave a few examples of how people adopted the idea of solar panels and "netting" from around 2004

One was a retired Army Engineer who set everything up - a fairly substantial  investment for him. He was paying €68,00 a month in costs - but the energy company put this up to nearly €2000,00  . "just because" So, instead of the projected 7 years to cover his investment, it would now be 25 years.

So, that was Monday night, with a Government decision to be made on Tuesday - and they voted to retain the netting scheme for the time-being.

I like to read through the comments by people, but I can't easily translate the comments page - so I struggle with the full meaning. I sometimes think to add my own comment but it woud have to be in English in order to say it properly...so I don't bother.

If I did, then it would probably be along the lines of "we were encouraged to invest in solar panels - good for the environment, good for the energy crisis, etc. and now you want to change the rules because the energy companies and the Government have realised that they are missing out on money - another black mark for across the board Privatisation".

These are a couple of other readers' comments

The netting scheme for solar panels will remain in place for the time being . The Senate does not support the outgoing cabinet's plan to phase out the scheme.

The new Government has yet to be finalised - so it is still the outgoing lot making decisions - so no changes for the time-being, but the big money will probably have the final say.

One of the pollies had this to say in support of their current decision

you don't throw away your old shoes without having an alternative

Thursday was the warmest February 15 on record, with the temperature reaching 15.5° at the De Bilt weather station near Utrecht, where records are set.

And Ben is coming home tomorrow - so we'll drive to Schiphol to pick him up