Irish Politics and the Fat Cats

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Irish FatCats

Show their True Colours

The ESB (Electricity Supply Board) boss is on €400,000 salary. Holy smoke - for such an leaden lump of a state owned company,  that is some stupidly high salary. Worse again, it would seem that the guy is not willing to take a salary cut like the rest of the country - there is a deafening silence from the ESB. I wish I had one tenth of his salary!  Ireland's huge capacity for greed makes me feel like throwing up.

Brendan Howlin Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform recently announced salary caps for the state paid FATCATS including the judges. He asked those currently in office to take smallish 15% voluntary cuts. But a lot of these greedy individuals won’t budge and inch off the gravy train.

"God save Ireland, said the heroes God save Ireland, said they all"  The long running Irish gravy train is fast running out of track. Derailment will hurt us all including the fat cats.

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New Developments in LED Lighting

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The Original 5mm LED diode

The LED chip would have been no more than 0.5mm

New Type LED Array Announced

The University of Miami College of Engineering has just announced the development of a new type of LED light. This new approach is based on various of arrays consisting of many very very tiny individual diodes. The diodes are said to be some 100 times smaller than the current LED diodes.

Now given the average LED chip is less than half a millimeter across - these little diodes must be some .005 of a millimeter. At that size, it would take a good microscope to see one!!

Central to the development of these LEDs is detailed analysis of thermal management, that is how heat is handled by the array. Heat is what degrades or destroys LEDs, so good heat management will be a major advance.

The stated advantages of the new LEDs are that these arrays should operate at lower temperatures which would mean higher efficiency and longer life-span.

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Letter from Japan

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As my regular readers will know, I have been ranting a lot recently about the gross mismanagement of Ireland's economy and public service. I received this interesting letter from Peter (full name supplied) which gives a glimpse of how the Japanese do things from an Irish mans perspective. Peter has given his permission to publish the letter in full, just withholding contact details. 

Thank you Peter.

The Letter from Japan

Hello Tony,

I have just read your blog, mostly 2011 issues and feel relieved that normally people like you are speaking up. If Ireland had a society similar to France/Greece/Spain then the fat cats would have serious problems.

Having graduated as an engineer 15 years ago, I moved to Japan for a 2 year contract but found my feet here and enjoy it. I sincerely would like to return to Ireland and started looking into possible moves about 4 years ago but the writing was on the wall and thankfully didn't. Living here has given me the opportunity to see another culture, the way it interacts, and at the same time being isolated from the boom era has also increased my shock every time I visit Ireland.

Now that I have children and look into the associated cost here compared to Ireland and find it unbelievable.  Japan has a lot of problems, but it gets the basics correct and learns from its mistakes.

Health visits to kinder garden schools:

Yesterday, my 3yr old had a visit by the dentist at her kinder garden - basically highlighting prevention and having a look at the dental condition. A small comment card came home with her. By the way, this was free. A few weeks ago, a doctor visited and the same procedure again.

Health Insurance:

Under Japan law, it is mandatory to have health insurance. (National Health Insurance or Company Health Insurance)

For children in Japan, the medical fee for any ailment is capped at a price of 2 Euro/month.  This includes the visit to the doctor and all medicines. That same 3 yr  old was hospitalized after birth for 4 days for precautionary measures and again, 2 Euro was the bill, whereas I'm sure that the actual costs were well over 1,000 Euro.

Health Facilities in Japan:

With Japan's population 25 times denser than Ireland, it is easier to have local services. However even the smaller hospitals have X-ray, & MRI machines available immediately.

Dental Costs:

Dental is also cheaper, but the dentists layout is totally different- 1 Dentist, 4 chairs and about 5 dental nurses. The dental nurse makes all the initial inspections and final cleaning up/explanations thereby leaving the dentist to make confirmation, do the work, and move on. It is a little bit like a factory production line but for 20 Euro check-up and 30 Euro for a filling, it is great. Of course the dentist will explain any additional questions directly if needed.

Unemployment:

If you look at the stats, unemployment seems low in Japan however the calculation method differs as a person here is deemed unemployed if they haven't worked for 3 months. (I think it is 1 month for Ireland). Also, there are numerous jobs generated (e.g. traffic signalers in road construction) to get a person back into work with the 3 months.

Finally there is the incentive of drastically reduced benefits after the initial 3 months are up. (Also benefits are not automatic if you are unemployed, a certain time in the workforce is required as well as the termination circumstances can have a delay in receiving benefits)

I don't think that Ireland has any model for the future but they could definitely take the good pages from here and other countries.

Best of luck with your efforts in keeping transparency.

Best Regards,
Peter

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FlueCube a Letter from the Inventor

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Neville D'Herville and his FlueCube

FlueCube

How do we Assess it's Effectiveness

If you have been reading this blog recently you can't have missed the posts on the FlueCube, a chimney cowl brought to my attention by one of my readers. I am always intrigued by new ideas so it was like a red rag to a bull and off I went to find out more about this cowl that could do something no other cowl has done before.

While I love new ideas, experience has taught me that some 9 out of 10 brilliant inventions come to nothing in the end. I have written about more than a dozen or so such invention on this blog alone.

So when I started to check out the FlueCube I got suspicious because the website has plenty of anecdotal material to support the assertions being made, but it is also lacking in any independent reviews or hard scientific facts.

While I was critical of the fact that the claims were unsupported on the FlueCube website, I wrote to FlueCube and requested copies of any scientifically based independent reviews or test results, diagrams etc. What I got back is the following e-mail from the man himself Neville d'Herville.

I print, unedited, it as I received it, interjected in italics with my replies / comments.


Email from Neville D'Herville FlueCube Inventor

D'Herville has left a new comment on your post "FlueCube More follow-up":

"Sales figures and non-independent feedback are not great criteria by which to judge the scientific performance and effectiveness of any product - don't you think?"

effectiveness? - um yes. Proves it works with the word spreading around doesn't it? Where do you get 'non-independent' from? All the testimonials on fluecube.com are independent. Customers can post negative feedback at anytime.

Of course effectiveness in any product is essential Neville, but that effectiveness needs to be adequately and independently demonstrated. Additionally, many people, like myself, want to know the basic scientific principles of how a thing works. 

Like how; 
(1) does it form a vortex? 
(2) how does it perform after-burn of the smoke in that vortex, 
(3) how does the vortex add to the "vacuum" in the flue?
(4) by what method/principle does it "self-clean"

I am not suggesting for one minute that you edit the feedback in any way but feedback would be far more effective if it were gathered by an independent source i.e an independent reviewer.

Scientific performance? - who cares? The new world bank sponsored enviro-economic evangelists, maybe? What the heck is 'the scientific performance'. Define this. Wan't a power point display? Graphs? Figures? Mathematical symbols? A how to build it yourself guide? Who am I convincing? The masters? The demigods? Academic Alumni? The all seeing eye?

I care about scientifically proved performance, like claims for fuel efficiency in a car for instance and I will not take the manufacturer's word on it. Independent tests or reviews is what I look for, and if you check the Internet you will see that there are testers who give trusted review in just about everything. On cameras for instance, you have Steve's Cameras etc.

I only care for the people who those some of those people asume they can shaft. It's what oligarchy is. While they increase energy prices and remove cheap/ sustainable forms of energy from those already struggling, the technical progress is ironically made in light of their ridiculous economic models, foreign policies and public relations.

I would tend to generally agree with this statement - government agencies are run by a bunch of overpaid monkeys who fiddle about with things they have little practical knowledge of, and generally they tend to make a complete arse of it.

Institutions like the EPA don't produce science. They produce economic figures. That is because that is what it is all about.

A New Zealand city gets hit with an earthquake. All the heat pumps fall off the walls, the power and gas is switched off - 50,000 people without heat and what does our government do? Give them free heatpumps.

On Tuesday 14th June our masters at UNEP decide wood heaters need phasing out because soot is causing the ice to melt. I can think of certain things that need phasing out.

In Ireland we have SEAI the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and the EPA the Environment Protection Agency. Both of these agencies have made some very stupid moves and what sickens me is that the clowns making these decisions are on massive salaries.

All of the above said Neville, I would love to see your cowl properly evaluated and a full and scientific review written by an independent capable individual. That way you could proceed to sell and promote your cowl, and probably see increased sales, without people like me asking awkward questions.

Good luck Neville with all of your efforts. Please don't take me as being the enemy because of my criticisms.  I perhaps have a glimpse into your thinking and your world, because I come from a background not unlike yours, in that I am trained in electronics and worked with Shell BP in domestic heating back in the seventies.  My Regards, Tony McGinley

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FlueCube More follow-up

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FlueCube?

I just got another letter from "Jeremy" on the FlueCube. Thank you Jeremy I really appreciate your input and also enjoy a lively debate. Here is Jeremy's letter in full - interjected with my responses in italics:


Jeremy has left a new comment on your post "FlueCube Chimney Cowl & Stove Efficiency":

Close to 200 sold, 100% positive feedback and customer satisfaction with the claims on the fluecube website. Regardless, almost every expert and specialist they bring this to discount it before even seeing it work. Their doing great work, selling well and I encourage them. 

Sales figures and non-independent feedback are not great criteria by which to judge the scientific performance and effectiveness of any product - don't you think?

The appliance cannot solve the issues of atmospheric back pressure. An H Cowl promises to fix down daft as do many cowls but they do not address atmospheric back-pressure. Air sheds in high inversion areas are where the worst wood heater pollution is. 

I think you may be referring to pressure zones?  No static cowl, that I know of, can deal with pressure zones either from inversions or wind and barrier created.  Some powered cowls are good in this sort of situation. In wind and barrier created pressure zones - It may help to raise the height of a chimney above the zone of pressure.

The inventor lacks relevant technical information simply because of no testing apparatus in international standards designed to record cowling efficacy or outside weather effects on the appliances performance. All standards do is promote new appliances.

Lots of hype plus a lack of hard scientific facts does not help to promote any item. I, for one, will not buy any item unless I firstly understand the working principles and then access several independent reviews from those who are scientifically equipped to make an informed evaluation.

He decided the only way was to get it out there to homes, to the consumer. He was right in doing so. There's too many 'hyped up' green market investors out there seeking the new oil to contend with. Natural Gas is going to work harder now nuclear struggles to keep the clean energy label. There is a huge lack of trust in light of recent disasters.

Good luck to him - I wish him all the best with his efforts. But, using some of your own terminology, there are too many 'hyped up' gizmos and ideas out there - and a 'huge lack of trust' - because of so many failures to deliver results.

In suburban and rural areas consumers desire security, self sufficiency, sustainability, fuel efficiency, neighbours that don't winge, and to be in control of their own domains.

Domestic heating needs security from power outages and natural disasters. Majority of consumers care little about global economic fads around climate change and from the top end energy sector.

I agree completely - that is why I have a stove myself and promote this efficient, safe, inexpensive, and independently sustainable method of home heating. I have burned garden clippings and thinnings, driftwood, old packing cases etc. Last year I had heat for a over week just from prunings of my trees in the garden.

Pellet burners lack the element of self sufficiency that typical log burners do offer to consumers. All they were waiting for was a cheap device to solve the emissions problem and get the health fanatics off their backs.

I see pellets as good for biomass energy plants and perhaps the more boutique electric flame or gas log fire category but its unlikely they will go further than that domestically.

I have long since stated, on this blog, that wood-pellet heating has not yet arrived technically or in the quality, storage and supply of fuel.  I have given almost a dozen good reasons why NOT to go with wood pellet heating and thus avoid the associated complexity, the very high installation costs, the fuel storage problems, and the lack of fuel independence associated with this form of domestic heating.

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FlueCube Addendum

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An Invitation to FlueCube

Following up on the last posting, I have sent FlueCube a letter and invitation to rebut my somewhat harsh criticisms.


Hi Guys,

I write a blog on Sustainable Energy as a hobby and through my concern
for a sustainable future.  One of my readers sent me a comment and
heads-up on your cowl.

I searched your website for some core scientific and technical
information along with diagrams etc explaining exactly how each aspect
of your claims works I failed to find anything much except a lot of
loose descriptions, and some performance claims which I find a bit
unbelievable.

I have written a Blog Post based on the information you have published
and on my own knowledge of combustion.

I am afraid it is not very complementary.

So that is why I am writing to give you an invitation to refute my
criticisms by providing specific technical facts and details of
operating principles, along with copies of independent test results to
support your claims.

I will be most happy to publish a refutation, along with an apology
for my harsh criticisms, if you can send me information backed with
hard scientific details and test results.

I look forward to hearing from you.

My Regards,

TonyMcGinley

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FlueCube Chimney Cowl & Stove Efficiency

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Super Magical Chimney Cowl
Gets Rid of Smoke - More Efficient?
Self-Cleaning?

Somehow I really doubt it!!

10 Gallon Can or Chimney Cowl?

I got this comment from "Jeremy"  - who prefers to remain unidentified:


COMMENT

Jeremy has left a new comment on your post "Dealing with Down-Draught":

It may also be worth checking out a cube shaped cowl in New Zealand called a FlueCube. Highly rated by consumers and irritating to those who'd rather have less self sufficient options available to consumers - such as the state owned energy sector. Smoke disappears, in most cases, in less than 4 minutes re YouTube video. Go Mr. Venturi indeed!

REPLY

Thanks for the heads-up on the Cube Cowl Jeremy. I have taken your advice and looked up the thing. My initial reaction is that the hype on the website makes some VERY dodgy sounding claims, like it's fuel efficiency and self-cleaning, but most of all  - that it reduces smoke by some process of after-burning in a vortex. How is this vortex formed and how exactly does it perform after burn?

Maybe Mr. Dyson, the vacuum cleaner man - who has fair knowledge of vortex usages - might be able to come up with a design for a chimney cowl?

The FlueCube site is HEAVY on hype and very light on any real scientific principles. If the guy has the patent why is he so shy about giving us operating principles and diagrams.

That sort of approach to publicity - tends to leave me with a very poor first impression. However, I shall make contact with FlueCube and ask for some real specifics regarding the design principles and copies of independent testing of results against other anti-downdraught cowls - and see what they have to say. Can the claims be fully supported - I believe not - buy I will wait and see.

THE COMMERCIAL BLURB BY FLUECUBE (My comments are in italics)

The FlueCube cowl is effective by taking advantage of both the hot air from the heat source below and the cold air from the inversion layer and winds from above. The two air pressures then mix in a chamber above the flue outlet, forming a mini cyclone in effect. This cyclone creates a self-generating and perpetual vacuum. 

How exactly does this work and can we see some proper tests?

The FlueCube is:

• Designed to handle all winter weather conditions including downdraft from inversion layers.

And so are almost all other anti-downdraught cowls on the market today.

• Fuel efficient while maintaining the wood fire's optimum heat output.

This sounds like a bit of exaggeration to me. For starters. if there is too much up-draught in the chimney - you will have less efficiency unless you install a draught controller. Secondly, optimum heat is adjusted by the air intake on a stove.

• Stand alone - free of moving parts
• Bird proof, wind proof, snow proof
• Self-cleaning provided that dry, low resin content wood is burned.

The only way it could be truly self-cleaning is if the surfaces were treated with nano-technology, or perhaps where very high temperatures were present to burn off soot.

Benefits:

• Using less Kindling, the fastest light up with the lowest pollution.

Where are the independent test figures to show higher fuel economy against other anti-downdraught cowls? Where are the test to show any significant reduction on smoke particles??

• Major reduction in wood smoke emissions in all conditions.

Again - where are the independent test results. The videos show a reduction on VISIBLE emissions, much of which is probably water vapour.

• Optimum heat all winter long, in all winter conditions, using less wood.

Stretching the truth a bit here - don't you think?

• A cleaner firebox, flue, and cowl provided the correct dry, low resin wood is used
• Heating during power blackouts.

These points above, like several others, have feck-all to do with the darn cowl guys!!

• With a hotplate, cooking during power blackouts
• No toxic gases or smoky odours inside the home - a relief to asthmatics and allergy sufferers.

That is some claim to make - and is again a bit of an exaggeration.

• You'll be one of many supporting sustainable, carbon neutral domestic energy use.
• There's nothing like the age - old comfort and aesthetic of a real fire.

Here I fully agree!!

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Electricity Saver Boxes

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Do Electricity Saving Boxes 

Really Work?

You must have seen the adverts about these energy saving boxes, or maybe you have seen the boxes in a friends house.

The adverts usually claim that these electricity saving boxes, costing around €20 - €30 or thereabouts, can preserve your appliances from damage and cut your electricity bills by 10% or more.

So how can a little plug-in box do all of that??  The answer is  - it cannot in any realistic sense save you money on your electricity bill.

Can these little boxes prevent your washing machine burning out in a "brown-out"?  IMHO no way possible. Can the boxes prevent damage in large energy surges?  I don't think so!!

If you are offered one of these little "Miracle Boxes", I would say save your €20 and put it towards your energy bill - that way you will experience REAL savings!!

How do you really get genuine energy saving??  I will write a post on some related ideas soon.

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Stove Glass Crazing

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Follow Up

On Stove Glass Crazing

 

I have been in touch with McElligotts in Castleisland County Kerry, the dealers I bought my stove from. John McCarthy, the man with the knowledge, says that thermal shock has caused the crazing of the glass and that is not a too common occurrence in the Blacksmith Anvil. The glass should be replace and they will arrange to have a replacement pane shipped.

Most of the crazing effect is on the side of the door that opens out. Thermal shock makes sense, as when the door is opened the first blast of cold air hits there first and it is probably cold that causes the crazing rather than heat!!

Top marks again to McElligotts and John McCarthy - the man who can.

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Great News Germany Nuke-free by 2022

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It's an ill wind

that blows nobody good!

Hand up or you're dead - by deadly radiation poisoning!

The old saying, "It's and ill wind that blows nobody good", is coming true of the Japanese nuclear accident at Fukushima.

Today the news wires are full of the story that Germany is to re-instate a 2002 plan to be nuclear free, and has set the timescale to 2022. It will begin immediately by closing the older and dodgier nuke plants.

What can I say - good on you Germany for leading the way. I only hope the rest of Europe won't act the complete fools, and that they will quickly follow the German lead.

Vielen Dank Deutschland!!!!

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