Energy crisis and rise in costs: how to manage?

[SoSadSoSadSoSad]

i simply do not have the budget to pay for higher energy costs. I don’t know where they think consumers are going go be able magic up extra money to pay. I mean it’s predicted they will soar. All passed on to consumers naturally because we cannot allow energy companies to take a hit to their profits.

Will those who cannot pay be cut off? And simply accrue debt with the energy companies that they spend years paying off?

Fucking Trump.

Heat rises.

Maybe they've blocked all the little holes the heat gets out of (aka insulation). I have a well insulated newbuild and the heating rarely comes on upstairs (it's set to come on at 18 degrees, and it usually stays that way with the underfloor heating from downstairs).

Ah new builds are much better for energy efficiency. Mine is Victorian.

Would you put the burner on first thing and use it all day if you’re in?

OMG! This passed me by.😲 Which taxes are going up, please?

@Alexandra2001 when I was a kid and up to about 30 years ago cycling was pleasurable as the amount of cars was much smaller. Last time I commuted to work by bike was about 15 years ago when a bloke in an SUV deliberately swerved towards me thinking it was funny and I had a row him at traffic lights. It was a busy route in to the city centre and very slow and he was peeved a bike could overtake.

I don't have a woodburner any more 😪. I have a heat pump and it's brilliant, but I miss a real stove. I lived in a couple of old houses that had storage heaters and a woodburner and they actually worked quite well in tandem- burner on in the evening and it would stay in to some degree overnight, gradually cooling towards morning, when the storage heaters would kick in, gradually cooling towards the evening. And wood is free if you're willing to go hedgerow diving (I was very poor at the time).

Yes i ve ridden a bicycle on and off for many years, its not just the volume of cars, its the impatience of drivers too, plus cars are a lot bigger than even 15 years ago.

But having said that, 99% of drivers are very good, hopefully higher fuel prices will at least lead to slower driving.

The other issue now is potholes, many quieter roads nr me are very dangerous to cycle on... with no signs the Govt will fund their proper repair, the Iran conflict will ensure there is even less money for this.

Reeves now though has a golden opportunity for wealth taxes, i mean, where will the rich go (if they ever were going too)

It really is not all about you.

Fore everyone in that can "manage" there will be entire villages in the world that cannot.

Got this email today.

Nearly 50% of the global urea production is offline right now and China has banned all agricultural exports this week and this is the height of sowing season for the planet. How, exactly, do log burners produce food?

Never underestimate the power of "It's all about me".

Heating will be going off. Thank goodness it’s spring!

Except now the aircons will be firing up ...

I’m more optimistic about cycle lanes as there’s a lot that can be achieved by a few well-placed bollards. I’ve seen that locally as we’ve had a few roads closed to through traffic over the years due to dangerous driving - a side effect is that these streets become really useful routes for cycling. The main barrier is that it takes political bravery to face down the opposition. Those councils that have good leadership though, will find it easier to deal with an oil shortage as their transport networks won’t be solely dependent on driving.

I agree that we could take driving offences more seriously too - there’s definitely scope to look at how the exceptional hardship defence is being used as the excuses make difficult reading in my local press reports. Reporting of collisions could be improved too particularly by better adherence to the guidelines for reporting collisions.

I'm a cyclist and at least round me, while I do see the occasional cock of the road in a giant SUV or pick up (thanks, America!) instead of a riced up hot hatch or sports coupé, I'm mostly of the opinion I'm quite safe. I do have lights on at all times and a bike rearview radar for extra precautions. I was going to cycle to work (14 km) through winter just been as I'd been cycling all through summer, but losing central heating due to a gas issue meant I woke up less enthused to do it.

Deffo going to be cycling from next week though. Car can be just for long distance journeys or with my partner, and it's only a 3 cylinder, 1 litre affair anyway.

We ve a lovely cycle path alongside the A390, but it often used by walkers, who shout at you to get on the road....

Many quieter lanes are potholed tracks... with councils openly saying they will not repair, inc some Sustrans routes.

The UK is decades behind many other countries on alternatives to cars.

Maybe this latest crisis will be the change (kick up the arse) we all need but with huge amounts of money now needed to subsidise fossil fuel use, i'm not hopeful.