biffvernon
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I seem to have got past the time-wasting nutter hurdle:
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Nemesis
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This outfit now has an 'advertorial' column in the Cumbria Life mag. It looks to all intent and purposes to be a genuine 'advice' column from the mag. Naturally the advice centres around why uPVC is best.
I have been concerned about some of that advice. I will look again harder...
I recall stuff about how much more recyclable uPVC is than treated timber.
(Nothing about the fact timber can be repaired and so far examples have lasted several hundred years...)
Me too - I got a similar response yesterday.
The only question they asked me was whether or not I was a competitor, and if I was suing. No and no - I am as impecunious as a banker.
I wasn't asked to justify my complaint at all.
I'd like to think that this is down to the genius with which I constructed my concise, and logically irrefutable complaint ....
:mrgreen:
... however it is more likely that a certain someone else had battered down the (oak) doors of resistance already ....
The only question they asked me was whether or not I was a competitor, and if I was suing. No and no - I am as impecunious as a banker.
I wasn't asked to justify my complaint at all.
I'd like to think that this is down to the genius with which I constructed my concise, and logically irrefutable complaint ....
:mrgreen:
... however it is more likely that a certain someone else had battered down the (oak) doors of resistance already ....
biffvernon
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It looks like arguements about recylability of plasics are now irrelevant as the market has stopped. Local authorities are stockpiling plastics that have nowhere to go. Just another unintended consequence of the financial meltdown. Prices for waste plastic have dropped by about two thirds in the last few weeks. Here's an example.
Nemesis
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We've just been up to the local tip - civic amenity site - waste recycling depot (whatever it's currently called) and how frustrating it is to see skips full of wood. We used to be allowed to dig in but no longer!
(Thankfully we've also been for a walk and brought home some bits of tree which were left over from some felling...we never come back from a walk without at least an armful of kindling.)
(Thankfully we've also been for a walk and brought home some bits of tree which were left over from some felling...we never come back from a walk without at least an armful of kindling.)
Flyfisher
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It's not only plastics recycling that has been affected by the current economic climate, scrap metal prices have tumbled recently as well.
http://www.eurofer.org/index.php/eng/Facts-Figures/Figures/Scrap-price-index
http://www.eurofer.org/index.php/eng/Facts-Figures/Figures/Scrap-price-index
I can't help thinking that some of the blame for these sorts of advertisments lies with sections of the 'green' lobby groups. Some (not all) will readily use 'green' and 'eco' to score political points or justify their own existence...it's just a natural progression that business deploys the same twisted logic in it's own defence.
For example - I was accosted by someone from 'alliance against urban 4x4's' in Norwich during the week. They attempted to stick something on my vehicle at the traffic lights. Their leaflets make all sorts of claims, including the laughable assertion that a Prius is "6 times greener" than a 4x4!!!! Not only is this impossible to measure/quantify, but I patently disagree with the assertion.
There are parallels with the debate on this thread about the extent to which double glazing can be considered 'green'. Both DG and a hybrid may result in lower ongoing energy consumption, but both will require considerable energy and nasties during manufacture. Wooden windows can be repaired and will last several lifetimes, whereas DG will fail eventually (sometimes in less than 10 yrs)....I doubt whether many Prius' will manage 250k miles...whereas the majority of landrovers, landcruisers etc. are still in use today.
I sympathise entirely with this thread...but perhaps some of the eco-lobby can now appreciate how ridiculous it is to claim that 4x4's are all evil and hybrids are all 'green'?
For example - I was accosted by someone from 'alliance against urban 4x4's' in Norwich during the week. They attempted to stick something on my vehicle at the traffic lights. Their leaflets make all sorts of claims, including the laughable assertion that a Prius is "6 times greener" than a 4x4!!!! Not only is this impossible to measure/quantify, but I patently disagree with the assertion.
There are parallels with the debate on this thread about the extent to which double glazing can be considered 'green'. Both DG and a hybrid may result in lower ongoing energy consumption, but both will require considerable energy and nasties during manufacture. Wooden windows can be repaired and will last several lifetimes, whereas DG will fail eventually (sometimes in less than 10 yrs)....I doubt whether many Prius' will manage 250k miles...whereas the majority of landrovers, landcruisers etc. are still in use today.
I sympathise entirely with this thread...but perhaps some of the eco-lobby can now appreciate how ridiculous it is to claim that 4x4's are all evil and hybrids are all 'green'?
Nemesis
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'The eco-lobby'. Now there's a nice catch all expression. Meaningless, really. But hey how good to have people to dislike, eh?
Works both ways though... 8)
Works both ways though... 8)
Flyfisher
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Almost as nice a 'catch all' expression as "4x4" - also meaningless, really, considering that there are plenty of 'normal' sized vehicles on the roads that just happen to have all their wheels driven.
As for electric vehicles, last I heard, the vast majority of our electricity comes from fossil fuels or nuclear energy. Hmm.
As for electric vehicles, last I heard, the vast majority of our electricity comes from fossil fuels or nuclear energy. Hmm.
Nemesis
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Glad I have two feet, and use them often.
The energy supply has its problems of course.
The energy supply has its problems of course.
DaveBrigg
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'Recyclable' on the leaflet is virtually meaningless, since there are very few things which cannot be recycled providing someone is willing to cover the cost involved. Cars are fully recyclable if someone is willing to break it down into component parts and then separate all the different plastics, rubber, metals etc. Whether the PVC windows do actually get recycled is another matter. Just like the oft-made claim 'produced using wood from a sustainable forest'. I'm sure that all forests are sustainable, it's just that many are chopped down regardless.
I noticed on the leaflet though that the company will recycle the wooden windows which they remove? What will they be recycled as? Greenhouses? Rustic picture frames? firewood? Presumably the most environmentally friendly use would be to recycle them as windows.
I noticed on the leaflet though that the company will recycle the wooden windows which they remove? What will they be recycled as? Greenhouses? Rustic picture frames? firewood? Presumably the most environmentally friendly use would be to recycle them as windows.
Nemesis
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Well, some of them are currently sitting on our greenhouse, as we rescued them from a skip, post insertion of uPVC, and they will become a cold frame.
But the waffle is clearly fooling many, as timber sashes are vanishing round here at an alarming rate.
Frankly I think the recycling part is a con - who will be removing the glass and putty, how, and what will they do with them?
But the waffle is clearly fooling many, as timber sashes are vanishing round here at an alarming rate.
Frankly I think the recycling part is a con - who will be removing the glass and putty, how, and what will they do with them?
skier-hughes
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Flyfisher said:
Yep, my car a 4x4 and nearly 1.5 times more economical on fuel than my wifes 2 wheel drive petrol car
Nemesis
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Clearly, then, she needs to get on her bike often.
skier-hughes
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She does for shopping etc, but when she has to travel to Bristol, Manchester, Birmingham for work she doesn't have time to cycle, and don't say use public transport cos we have one bus an hour to wolverhampton :wink:
Nemesis
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In which case I am sure that you can lend her your far more economical 4x4, and she can help save the planet.
OLDCOLLIER
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I do wish I could find the article, very frustrating. Not sure whether it would have been a good idea to post the url though, given the fact that it was about a local authority on the south coast ADVOCATING the use of upvc vertical sliders on one of their landmark historical buildings. But only Grade II Listed, so that's alright!! The upvc company concerned now uses that testimonial in their publicity. I did send the url for the article to my local conservation officers for comment, but neither Sarah nor Dennis got back. Probably too stunned. If I can find the reference I'll post it later.
skier-hughes
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Nemesis said:
She does when I don't need it.
Nemesis
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Ah of course - all that off-roading, charging over hill and dale, through mist and mire, man and machine against the elements and topography, hauling lost sheep and stranded ramblers from ravines with the winch, that sort of thing.
Just the sort of thing so many residents of Kensington and Chelsea seem to do in their spare time too, I note from the residents' parking stickers in their pristine 4x4's when they arrive in Northumberland for Christmas, where they have one of the other family homes, wearing their shiny unsullied green Hunters ( we can tell they aren't from round these parts , we all wear black Argylls).
But back to the topic - yes, shame that the placcy window recommendation for listed buildings cannot be found, would have been fun to read.
Just the sort of thing so many residents of Kensington and Chelsea seem to do in their spare time too, I note from the residents' parking stickers in their pristine 4x4's when they arrive in Northumberland for Christmas, where they have one of the other family homes, wearing their shiny unsullied green Hunters ( we can tell they aren't from round these parts , we all wear black Argylls).
But back to the topic - yes, shame that the placcy window recommendation for listed buildings cannot be found, would have been fun to read.
skier-hughes
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Pford75 said:
Are you not confusing glazed units here with plastic window surrounds?
Yes, double glazed units will eventually fail, but will they fail quicker when inserted into plastic surrounds than wooden ones?
Double glazed units can be just as easily replavced in PVCu surrounds as wooden ones, so we shouldn't worry ourselves with failing units.