When I was a kid our house was heated by coal fires, and hot water was heated by an anthracite stove. We had gas, but there were no gas fires. The cooker was fuelled by gas, i.e., coal gas that was piped from the local gasworks. There was no double-glazing or efficient seals for windows or doors. Air passed though grills that were set into brick walls for ventilating spaces under the wooden floors. There was no insulation in the loft, and lagging around pipes and cisterns was used to prevent them from freezing, but it was not always effective.
Since those times in the early 1940s great advances have
been made with energy conservation and there are more efficient systems for heating
our homes. Natural gas has replaced coal gas and LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas) can
be an alternative fuel. Oil and LPG have to be delivered in bulk to storage tanks
that are usually set apart from the house. Some people like wood burning stoves
suitable for pellets, chips or logs. Coal has gone out of fashion, but
anthracite-type fuels are still available.
Many householders are installing solar panels, and a few are
turning to wind turbines – that’s if planning permission can be obtained. A
large propeller at the top of a tower that is sited in your garden is not likely
to be welcomed by neighbours. On the other hand, solar or wind generated electricity
that is surplus to requirements can be sold to certain suppliers. Therefore if
it is feasible to install a wind generator, in the long term it could pay for
itself.
The photo at the top is of a number of pipes linked to two
Potterton gas boilers at my church. The boilers do a good job by rapidly
heating the building which has been insulated to minimise loss of heat.
Links
Potterton Boilers
Home Heating Guide
Heating Oil Quote
Heating Systems
Stoves
Anthracite
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