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Post by zorro on Mar 13, 2008 17:00:50 GMT 1
the answer is to use top quality laminate, wood comes with its own series of problems, like getting marked easily and coming loose. That's my tip of the day!!!!
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Post by capio on Mar 13, 2008 17:10:20 GMT 1
If i were you i'd invest in solar panels and other eco friendly things rather than parquet floors in the bedrooms. Also i'd spend some money on landscaping. I think you would find eco-friendly has a broader appeal than marble floors, spa baths or parquet under the bed. solar panels are sure, but there will be parquet floors in bedrooms because there is no way that we are putting tiles in bedrooms (that is just the way it is ). Stone or tiles are going in kitchen, bathroom, dining , but for bedroom and living room wood is best, we were thinking in line with wooden floors made of oak but not classic parquet but long boards (it is traditional Croatian so called "seljacki pod").... landscaping is a must, complete with grass, and trees, we live in northern part of RH so there is no problem in getting soil, plants and so on... pool is just for easy selling most of EU buyers first ask for pool, but in a year they see it is better to swim in sea, but this is the situation (pool cost is minimal, considering other costs) Do solar panels ever pay for themselves? I am not convinced of the merits of small scale solar either financially or environmentally . Especially when you take into account they will be produced abroad and shipped in.
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Post by Carol on Mar 13, 2008 17:20:57 GMT 1
No, i don't think they do ever pay for themselves. Now that you are back in the UK haven't you found that people are behaving like they've found religion over recycling and other eco stuff? You get ordinary people muttering about doing their bit to save the planet as they put their newspapers in the recycle bin! Even my children's TV program (Bob the Builder) has a song about how good it is to recycle, reuse etc. when we left three years ago, it seemed the worst thing you could accuse someone of was being racist, but now I am not so sure it isn't using the wrong kind of aerosol!
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Post by capio on Mar 13, 2008 17:23:06 GMT 1
No, i don't think they do ever pay for themselves. Now that you are back in the UK haven't you found that people are behaving like they've found religion over recycling and other eco stuff? You get ordinary people muttering about doing their bit to save the planet as they put their newspapers in the recycle bin! Even my children's TV program (Bob the Builder) has a song about how good it is to recycle, reuse etc. when we left three years ago, it seemed the worst thing you could accuse someone of was being racist, but now I am not so sure it isn't using the wrong kind of aerosol! I work for one of the worlds largest recycling companies...so I guess I am biased;)
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Post by justapixel on Mar 13, 2008 18:01:07 GMT 1
I think solar panels don't even pay for themselves energetically, not to mention financially, especially when they aren't used all year round. They are more a vogue among new agers because they sound eco-friendly. Real ecology is recycling and using quality insulation.
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IgorG
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Post by IgorG on Mar 14, 2008 22:07:02 GMT 1
solar panels are sure,quote] Do solar panels ever pay for themselves? I am not convinced of the merits of small scale solar either financially or environmentally . Especially when you take into account they will be produced abroad and shipped in. why should they be produced abroad? in north cro, solar panels pay for themselves in 5 years... and it is nice in summer to have hot water when you want, and you can even heat the pool
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Post by capio on Mar 15, 2008 2:09:29 GMT 1
solar panels are sure,quote] Do solar panels ever pay for themselves? I am not convinced of the merits of small scale solar either financially or environmentally . Especially when you take into account they will be produced abroad and shipped in. why should they be produced abroad? in north cro, solar panels pay for themselves in 5 years... and it is nice in summer to have hot water when you want, and you can even heat the pool I'd like to see some evidence they they provide a R.O.I in 5 years, if they do that's fantastic. Nobody within Croatia manufactures all the components needed for a Solar Panel as far as I know - I would be flabbergasted if they did. Therefore one most take into account the carbon footprint of a system that has traveled the world. It's a shame China don't have a state dependency in Europe - it would save the world from hell in a handcart.
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IgorG
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Post by IgorG on Mar 15, 2008 12:07:03 GMT 1
Here in Medjimurje I know of two firms that are very good with solar panels and all sorts of different Eco friendly way's of heating and cooling, even lighting... I'll call them on Monday and will post prices and R.O.I. plans. Probably in north is a bit faster than in Dalmatia, but in Istria I've seen even better because of cold winters, no gas for heating, and pool to heat... I'm working on a plan to get small wind turbines for "vikendice" small weekend houses, like they have in Austria, but there are a lot of hurdles some people that have similar property here in medjimurje, they have solar to electricity panels on roof's and fill accumulator so they can use power for short periods (24h?)
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Post by mirabelle on Mar 15, 2008 12:25:01 GMT 1
With the way energy prices are going repay on solar investment will surely be better - but figures are needed, as who'd be surprised if "salesmen" had not extrapolated a lot already to support their results
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Post by mambo on Mar 15, 2008 14:01:56 GMT 1
In the Netherlands the solar panels pay themselves back in approximately 15 years, so I assume that here in Croatia the 5 years sounds very reasonable.
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IgorG
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Post by IgorG on Mar 17, 2008 11:21:36 GMT 1
In the Netherlands the solar panels pay themselves back in approximately 15 years, so I assume that here in Croatia the 5 years sounds very reasonable. not really shure about that, I never did a calculation for me so I don't know, considering that we are spending 50-100 eur/month on gas alone in winter and 20 eur in summer for 70 m2 flat (just for water and heating) I'll try to make a calculation...
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Post by Estelle on Mar 17, 2008 18:25:45 GMT 1
Igor, you should look at ground source heat pumps, for every unit of power used there can be a return three or four units. Also it ispossible for one pump to power more than one apartment as they come in a variety of sizes.
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Post by prkbrk on Mar 17, 2008 19:27:52 GMT 1
those folk I know in the 'energy' business have indicated to me a 15-20 year ROI timeframe - bugger that as i wont likely be around to enjoy the financial benefits ;D
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Post by valiant on Mar 18, 2008 19:23:03 GMT 1
i rekon solar energy(just copper piping in a black bottomed square frame covered enclosed with glass, with a bloww off valve) can be made by yourself and is great all year round for hot/warm water. anyway, im planning to make that one day. and wind power turbine (also home made) can be used for lighting and tv. the rest i think has to come from the grid, unfortunately.maybe a bio diesel generator. dont know. i hate being dependent on water and energy suppliers.
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IgorG
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Post by IgorG on Mar 21, 2008 10:28:38 GMT 1
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