Penzance Town Centre

Penzance Town Centre

Friday 7 July 2023

Standalone air source heat pump hot water systems.

 The Government is promoting the replacement of gas boilers by heat pumps with mixed results and horror stories in the press.  Meanwhile other heat pump solutions that could contribute to the transition from fossil fuels are ignored..  I illustrate the point below with my project to upgrade my hot water system to a high pressure (unvented) system following the demise of my Aga and the desire to improve the performance of newly installed showers.  Dick Cliffe 

Situation.  

My gas powered Aga has been cold since Jun 22 with no prospect of it being turned back on again given the price of gas.  The Aga was pricking my conscience anyway even before the price of gas went through the roof because it was environmentally ‘unfriendly’ and wasteful.  I am currently using an  immersion heater to heat water – it uses about 2.5 units of electricity day as there are only two of us in the house (domestic average 4 units a day). 

High Pressure (unvented) Hot Water Systems.  

I have been planning to install a high pressure (mains pressure) tank to make two new showers work better and get rid of the header tank in the attic.  Logically the new cylinder would be connected to the central heating system boiler to allow the gas boiler to heat the hot water.  This would involve a lot of new plumbing and does nothing positive for the environment because about half of the electricity I use today for water heating is renewable or low carbon electricity so going for gas would be a backward step.

Solution.  

The solution, discovered by accident rather than design, will be the installation of a hot water tank with built in air-source heat pump.  The input air is sucked in via duct from the roof or soffit and the cold air expelled through a second duct to the roof or a grill in the soffit – there is no requirement for an external air source heat pump unit and all of the associated ‘pipery’ . 

 

This is an idealized installation but it illustrates the principle of a standalone hot water

 tank with built in air source heat pump connected to vents/inlets in the wall.

 Efficiency. 

The system has a COP (excuse the jargon - coefficient of performance) of 3.36 meaning you get 3.36 units (Kwhrs) of heat for each unit of electricity consumed.   I am consuming 912 units/year with the immersion heater and the standalone air-source heat pump tank would take 304 units assuming a COP of 3.0 (manufacturers spec less 10%) giving a saving of  608 units which equates to about  £183/year at 30p per unit of electricity.

Costs.  

There are several manufacturers of these standalone tank systems (Dimplex Edel is one).  A 200 litre tank is approximately £2000  but they range from £1700 - £3000.   For someone like me who was planning to convert to a high pressure (unvented) system anyway, the additional cost of an Edel tank over a good quality high pressure tank is about £1300.  By going for the standalone solution, I avoid the cost of modifying the Central Heating pipe work and control system to heat water using the gas boiler – not something I wanted to do anyway for environmental reasons.   I am expecting to get my money back in 3-4 years after allowing for savings on central heating systems modifications and reduced operating costs. 

Table 1.  Alternative solutions and their running costs.

Hot Water

Solution

 

Energy

Kwhrs

Eff %

Fuel Cost

Annual

Cost

Comments

Immersion

 

912

100%

30p/unit

£274

Assumed 100% efficient

Air Source HP Tank

304

300%

30p/unit

£91

608 Kwhrs taken from from air.  COP 3.0 assumed

Gas (CH Boiler)

1112

82%

8p/unit

£89.

Boiler ~91% but less efficient when just heating water + pipe losses.

The table shows three alternative solutions considered.  All provide 912 Kwhrs of hot water.

Long Term. 

In the longer term the Government & National Grid can be expected to encourage diversion of electricity demand to off-peak times to reduce peak electricity consumption which is expensive to meet today and which will get more expensive in the future as renewables replace gas generation.  The incentive for customers to move demand (switch off in peak times) will be driven by price - this will suit owners of hot water tanks heated by electricity and by air source heat pump.  The good economics of heat pump powered hot water systems is likely to get even better compared to alternatives.  A second advantage is that installing an air source heat pump hot water tank does not compromise any future investment in air source heat pump central heating  - in many ways it simplifies the plumbing and reduces the total demand on the new system by ~15%. 

Government Policy.  

Standalone hot water systems with built-in heat pumps are common in the USA but are not common here in the UK.  The Government seems to be missing a trick in not encouraging these because heating hot water accounts for around 15-17% of all domestic energy consumption. There will be millions of households where air-source heat pump powered central heating installations are impractical or unaffordable (despite grants) but standalone hot water systems powered by air-source pumps are. 

Health Warning.  

This solution suits my particular circumstances and will not suit everybody.  I was planning to replace my vented system anyway to improve two new bathroom showers and my vented system was not already connected to the CH boiler – a substantial expense to connect to my new tank given the positions of the boiler and the tank.  Links to products are below (these are for information and are not recommendations)

https://www.dimplex.co.uk/product/200l-edel-hot-water-heat-pump-rf

https://www.electricpoint.com/dimplex-edel-hot-water-cylinder-heat-pump-200l-edl200uk-630rf.html?

https://www.theheatpumpwarehouse.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/vaillant-arostor-1-0-lr-1454130.pdf

https://www.ariston.com/en-vn/products/heat-pump-water-heater/domestic-heat-pump-water-heaters/nuos-plus-wifi-200-250

Friday 7 January 2022

Penzance Council - Forthcoming By-Election in East Ward

 There will be an election to fill the Penzance Council vacancy in Penzance East Ward (at least 10 electors have requested an election).  The date of the election had not been decided by Cornwall Council Electoral Services as at 7 Jan 22.  


The timescales for submitting nomination papers once the date is notified ('Notice of Election') is usually very tight.  The Notice of Election has to be issued not later that 25 days before the date of the poll and closing date for nominations is 19 days before date of poll.  There can be just one week to get nominations papers, complete them and return them by hand to Electoral Services at St Austell (Electoral Services do provide an officer to accept papers at St John's Hall but the default is St Austell if you are late getting your papers together).

Eligibility to stand as a candidate is explained here – in brief you can stand if you are on the electoral roll of Penzance Parish, live in Penzance (anywhere in the Parish) or within 3 miles of the Parish boundary or work in the Parish.  You should identify all the ways you qualify in case your circumstances change in the future.  You also need two voters from Penzance East ward to nominate you.  You need to check that you are not disqualified from standing.

If you are standing on behalf of a registered party then the party officials will know the ropes.  There is special guidance for independent candidates here.

Do read the Electoral Commission guidance on eligibility closely - the advice above is just a summary and the eligibility detail matters.

Not sure what Councillors' responsibilities are - well start here.  

Do you need an election leaflet - yes you do because elections can be highly competitive in Penzance.  You can see examples on this site which were prepared for the May 2021 Local Government Elections.  A social media presence is important but older postal voters are very significant in by-elections and many do not use social media.

Website links:

Cornwall Council Town & Parish Council Vacancies (currently showing that Penzance will have an election) 

Cornwall Council Current and Forthcoming Elections (will publish Notice of Election for Penzance East soon).


A Guide to Parish Councillor Responsibilities 




 Penzance East Ward








Sunday 18 April 2021

Heamoor & Gulval Nominations

The candidates for Cornwall Council’s  Ludgvan, Madron, Gulval and Heamoor electoral division are listed below.  The division is greatly enlarged following the Boundary Review. 

Nominations for Cornwall Council.  One vote out of the following candidates:

ELLIOTT,  Simon J,           5 Pendrea Road, Gulval, TR18 3ND                   Conservative Party

GEORGE,  Andrew H,        (address in Cornwall)                                       Liberal Democrats

NICHOLSON, Paul W L,     Avalon, Brea Fm, St Buryan, Pz TR19 6JB        Liberal Party in Cornwall          

RUSSELL Mark A. G.   1 Lower Tremenheere Farm, Ludgvan, Pz TR20 8XG   Green Party

 

 Ludgvan, Madron, Gulval and Heamoor Division

             From Cornwall Council Inter-active map

The candidates for Heamoor & Gulval ward for Penzance Council are listed below.  The ward’s eastern boundary (see map below) has changed with Eastern Green now included in East Penzance in order to balance the size of the divisions.

Nominations for Penzance Council.  Vote for three of the following candidates:

JACKSON,  Bonny,   11 Mounts Bay Rd, Alverton, Penzance, TR18 4QR              Independent 

                                                                                                                   

REYNOLDS,  Stephen John,    Polmennor Ho. Polmennor Rd, Heamoor, Pz TR20 8UW

                                                                                       Independent Community Candidate          

SLEEMAN,  Brendan James     (address in Cornwall)    Leaflet here 

SORRELL,  Richard Higher      Hellangove Fm, Badgers Cross, Gulval, Pz,  TR20 8XD                                                                                                                                             Liberal Democrat

Penzance Council - Heamoor & Gulval Ward


            From Cornwall Council Inter-active map





Newlyn & Mousehole Nominations

The candidates for Cornwall Council’s Mousehole, Newlyn & St Buryan electoral division are listed below.  The division is greatly enlarged following the Boundary Review. 

Nominations for Cornwall Council.  One vote for one of the following:

BOLITHO,  William Major  (address in Cornwall)                                               Conservative Party

FLINDALL,  Ian Edward      Chypraze Farm, Morvah, Penzance, TR19 7TU            Green Party

MARRINGTON,  Thalia Simone,     4 Merlin Place, Mousehole,  TR19 6SH             Liberal Democrats


 Mousehole, Newlyn & St Buryan Electoral Division


Map from Cornwall Council Inter-active Map


The candidates for Newlyn & Mousehole ward for Penzance Council are listed below.  The ward’s eastern boundary has been moved across The Coombe to include Tolcarne such that all of Newlyn is now included in Newlyn & Mousehole ward.

Nominations for Penzance Council.  Five votes for five of the following:

AXFORD, Dennis John,       9 Quillet Road, Newlyn, Penzance, TR18 5QR      Independent

BOSWORTH,  Susan J,       Mortimore Ho., Old Paul Hill, Newlyn, TR18 5BX   Conservative  

CRAGO,  Rob,                    29 Florence Place, Newlyn, PZ, TR18 5PT (leaflet) Newlyn Independent

DAVIS,  Nigel Ashley,         5 Forbes Close, Newlyn, Penzance, TR18 5EU       Conservative Party

DONALDSON,  Oliver James,  (address in Cornwall)                                     Independent

LAMBOURN,  John Stove,       4 Glenway, Adit Lane, Newlyn,  TR18 5DY        Independent,                                                                                                                             Owner Lugger Ripple

MARRINGTON,  Thalia Simone. 4 Merlin Place, Mousehole, TR19 6SH            Liberal Democrats

RABBITTE,  Michael Thomas,  9 Orchard Court, Penzance, TR18 4SX  (leaflet)   Independent


Penzance Council - Newlyn & Mousehole Ward

Map from Cornwall Council Inter-active Map




Friday 16 April 2021

Promenade Ward - Dick Cliffe




 I am standing for re-election to Penzance Council on 6 May as an independent councillor under the 'Independent Penzance' banner with colleagues keen to make things happen in Penzance.  

I am standing as an independent because the issues at parish level are not party political in nature and national party affiliation can become 'baggage' and at worst result in Penzance Council being used as a pawn/play thing  in higher level political battles. 

My 'manifesto' is summarized in our joint leaflet (front here, back here) but a more detailed version is provided here.  My contact details are provided on the leaflet.  

Promenade Ward – Penzance Council

There are 6 independent councillors standing in Promenade Ward.  Four of us are standing under the 'Independent Penzance' banner as explained in our leaflet.  We are supporting Jim McKenna, the current Cornwall Councillor for Promenade for re-election.  

Karen Baker, one of the current three Heamoor Councillors on the Council has decided to stand as an independent in her own ward (Promenade) as she lives in Alverton.  We learnt Karen was standing for Promenade after the our leaflet went to press otherwise she would have been included in it.  Karen has a long record of working in the community and we support her as an independent  candidate for Promenade Ward.  


You can download our flyer (pdf document) here (front) and here (candidates). 

See the earlier blog post for details of all of the candidates standing in Promenade Ward for Penzance Council.

 

Saturday 10 April 2021

Penzance East Nominations & New Boundaries.

Penzance East Electoral Division boundaries have changed both to the west and the east due to the electoral boundary review.  Penzance East now include part of what was Penzance Central and part of what was Gulval ward.    

Nominations for Cornwall Council.  One vote for one of the following:

DRISCOLL,    Roger Keith,   (address in Cornwall)                                              Independent 

DWELLY,  Tim,    Lower Chellew Farm,  Trenowin, Vellanoweth, TR20 8BL            Independent

HOW,   Jonathan Mark,   Wood Carvers Cottage, Lescudjack Rd, Pz TR18 3AD      Green Party

LAWLOR  Zach,     Pleasant House,  Pleasant Terrace, St Just, Pz, TR19 7JG         Lib Dem

MCCLARY,  Megan Louise,     (address in Cornwall)                                            Conservative Party

OLIVIER,   Cornelius Michael John,  26 Boscaswell Village,  Pendeen, TR19 7EP    The Labour Party

 

Nominations for Penzance Council.  Six votes for the following:

ASHTON,  Miki,   (address in Cornwall)        (Leaflet here)                            Penzance Independent

BEVERIDGE,  Marion Joan,   The Old Mill, Nancledra, Pz, TR20 8NA               Labour Party

DRISCOLL,  Roger Keith,   (address in Cornwall)                                          Independent

DURRANT,   Melville John,  38 Trewellard Rd, Pendeen, Pz TR19 7ST (LeafletIndependent Penzance

GINIERES,   William James Paul,  8 Tremenheere Rd, Pz TR18 2AH (Leaflet)  Penzance Independent

HOW,  Jonathan Mark,  Wood Carvers Cottage, Lescudjack Rd, PZ TR18 3AD  Green Party

LAWLOR Zach,  Pleasant House, Pleasant Terrace, St Just, Pz TR19 7JG         Liberal Democrats

POE,  David Lewis,   3 Owen Vean, Gears Lane, Goldsithney, TR20 9LB  (Leaflet) Independent Penzance

THOMAS,  Ben,  14A Lannoweth Rd, Pz  TR18 3AB       (Leaflet)                    Penzance Independent


Change to the west boundary of Pz East.....


Change to the eastern boundary of Pz East.......