tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14798090.post4663360752892085130..comments2024-03-27T06:42:31.956+00:00Comments on Mark Brinkley (aka House 2.0): Is sustainability stuck?Mark Brinkleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03473684038478246288noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14798090.post-20843965459884748342014-05-08T18:51:11.364+01:002014-05-08T18:51:11.364+01:00VAT rates aren't set by the EU although the EE...VAT rates aren't set by the EU although the EEC as it then was did invent VAT which replaced the sales tax we had (and US states still have). <br /><br />The main restriction imposed by the EU that once a member state starts to charge VAT on a good or a service it cannot go back to charging 0%. It can only reduce it back to 5% - hence the 5% VAT on domestic fuel. <br /><br />Given the Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14798090.post-21086551254202883512014-04-13T15:55:18.930+01:002014-04-13T15:55:18.930+01:00We live in one of the 25 million poorly insulated,...We live in one of the 25 million poorly insulated, leaky homes and have been grappling with retrofitting insulation to floors, walls, windows and roof for ten years. It's expensive, disruptive and time consuming. Most people cannot do this because they move house every 5-10 years. We consulted the Energy Savings Trust twice (useless - they recommended low energy light bulbs, but did not Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14798090.post-3928370679144018012014-03-31T12:13:44.517+01:002014-03-31T12:13:44.517+01:00"it might prove to be expensive but then so i..."it might prove to be expensive but then so is health care and education and no one says we can't afford to do these"<br />Yes they do!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14798090.post-65463883230389397502014-03-21T20:10:42.825+00:002014-03-21T20:10:42.825+00:00Another analogy is with a man who rightly tells a ...Another analogy is with a man who rightly tells a room there is a fire. A vocal section of the room insists there isn't a fire. Meanwhile that man is noisily breaking apart the nearest available fire extinguisher.Robert Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07420879727235390649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14798090.post-90499121105580120122014-03-21T18:21:27.055+00:002014-03-21T18:21:27.055+00:00The funny thing is that I reckon the world could c...The funny thing is that I reckon the world could crack low/zero carbon energy in 30 to 40 years if it really put the effort in. Yes, it might prove to be expensive but then so is health care and education and no one says we can't afford to do these. Lots of things we do are expensive. <br /><br />A drainage system on a house is expensive but no one suggest we do without because given a year Mark Brinkleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03473684038478246288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14798090.post-51273801148774973032014-03-21T18:13:14.491+00:002014-03-21T18:13:14.491+00:00A client asked about most sustainable energy sourc...A client asked about most sustainable energy source for her refurbished home and I said it is complicated. She asked if I could give a short answer to which I replied, "yes, we are fucked".<br /><br />After a short pause she said "is there a slightly longer answer?"Nick Granthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11949493936074643201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14798090.post-77488809811432056102014-03-20T17:50:30.935+00:002014-03-20T17:50:30.935+00:00Indeed. And it manages to rehash to absurd idea th...Indeed. And it manages to rehash to absurd idea that fossil fuels get more subsidies. This is demonstrably wrong. The arguments she is using are all self-defeating, and really reflect a lack of critical analysis among environmental activists.<br /><br />Yes, of course you could add the Renewable Energy Foundation to that list. Does the Telegraph ever point out that it is an anti-renewables lobby Robert Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07420879727235390649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14798090.post-29620664681542319232014-03-20T17:04:17.466+00:002014-03-20T17:04:17.466+00:00Robert,
Right on cue there is a piece in today...Robert,<br /><br />Right on cue there is a piece in today's Guardian by Ashley Seager that repeats this mantra.<br /><br />"Before you decry "subsidies" to renewables, remember that much bigger subsidies have gone to North Sea oil and gas, coal and every other dirty fuel for decades, to say nothing of the ruinously expensive decision to build the new £16bn Hinkley Point nuclearMark Brinkleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03473684038478246288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14798090.post-5088074742779498912014-03-20T16:37:55.830+00:002014-03-20T16:37:55.830+00:00Mark
I cannot vouch for my own soundness, but tha...Mark<br /><br />I cannot vouch for my own soundness, but that is another issue.<br /><br />One of the key problems here is a lack of honesty in debates. We are told frequently that nuclear energy is too expensive. Yet, ask these same people which renewable energy source is too expensive, and you will draw a blank. Likewise we are told that natural gas is expensive. These arguments have no legs toRobert Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07420879727235390649noreply@blogger.com