I’ve been looking at the options available to me in making Paddy’s Place more environmentally friendly, more self-sufficient and more energy efficient when the property finally falls into my hands.

I reckon that a solid fuel stove will be my main source of heating … it will have a back boiler and will take coal, wood and turf. It will have a hot plate on which to boil a kettle etc.

I’m actively looking at wind power turbines  as an independent source of electricity and looking at selling the excess to the E.S.B. It amazes me that there are no grants available for this purpose.

There are grants available for:

• Solar heating  – for space heating and/or hot water.
• Heat pump  – horizontal collector, vertical collector, well water or air source.
• Wood Chip or Pellet stoves – with or without integral boiler.
• Wood Chip or Pellet boilers.
• Wood Gasification Boilers.

But no grants for installing a wind turbine. Go figure!

Until I get access to the property I can’t fully decide how to approach things …. but my ‘list’ thus far:

• Trim, cut and make safe the trees around the house. Some have already fallen and others are in precarious positions.
• Tidy/Fix the boundary ditches … put in some hedging where/if necessary.
• Check the roof …. aim for replacement if necessary.
• Start upstairs … remodel, insulate and redesign if necessary
• Downstairs … remodel, look at heating options etc.
• Long term: knock and rebuild bathroom addition, perhaps making it larger with a utility and a back door. No more than that …. cos the idea is to downsize not enlarge.
• Perhaps build a fuel store – I’ll need some place to store the wood, turf and coal!

All the above is subject to change …. I must wait ’til the place is signed, sealed and delivered to me before I can make any firm plans.

My money is ready … it’s the vendor and his solicitor who need to get their skates on!