Time for New 'Capital Investments' ?

[Syt]

Y'all are assuming that mongers' boiler is for heating, and not for hot water.

In my apartment it's both. Those gas powered "continuous-flow water heaters" (thanks, Google translate ) are pretty common in Vienna, and though there's a mandate to phase them all out till 2040 (and newly built units don't have them anymore), 1/3 - 1/2 of apartments still have them, either for hot water, or heating, or (most common) both (for heating, it heats water and circulates it into the radiators).

I'd love to get rid of mine, because it's a hassle - annual maintenance cost, special maintenance every four years, annual check-up by chimney sweep to make sure the exhaust gases are within regulation ... but it's up to my landlord to do so; they have no incentive for changing as they have no expenses from it unless it breaks.

Would love central heating in our building but it would require major renovation to the 40+ units in our building which is also (partially) under conservation. While I like my apartment, I keep looking for what's in the market, and one of the criteria for upgrading is not having this old box anymore.

[HVC]

I've never seen one in real life but they're so cool. Very efficient like all heat pumps.

They're literally cool, as in they'll cool the room they're in and become less efficient if not planned well smart planning is two way exhaust ducting. Into a hall or something in the summer to help cool and outside in winter. I looked into it a while back when I had to replace my boiler. But the location of my boiler made it not really feasible. Having family in construction though I know they're becoming more popular in Ontario for new builds, apparently.

[mongers]

Y'all are assuming that mongers' boiler is for heating, and not for hot water.

Yes it's both and as other have mentioned probably too small for the house.

Heat pumps are out as that would require no end of new plumbing/radiators and drilling through hair-brained Victorian brickwork etc.

[mongers]

I would agree a heat pump is the option to explore if you plan on staying in your house.

The idea of a boiler with a holding tank... Reminds me of the old sort with the tank in the attic. Key to why mixing hot and cold supplies is a terrible idea.

One of the best rich people flexes are those third taps that give boiling water on demand and cost something mad like 10k to install.

I guess I should get my computer ASAP afterall if its only going to get worse.
My new job will require office days fairly locally so going to be looking back at an electric bike again at some point too. Same problems as last time with finding it difficult to bring myself to pay thousands for something and lack of confidence in the cheap ones.

It's probably worth holding off on that as the technology is still coming on in leaps and there's a government consultation on e-bikes out at the moment, one of the things being looked into is removing the requirement that e-bikes are pedelacs, that is they have to be pedalled in order for the electric motor to assist.

So could well soon see e-bikes that have a 'twist and go option' without the need to pedal, though I doubt the max speed will go up past it's current 15.4mph.
Of course with the trump tariff BS, there might also be significant changes in UK tariffs, which were recently panned to change for e-bikes.   

[Josquius]

I would agree a heat pump is the option to explore if you plan on staying in your house.

The idea of a boiler with a holding tank... Reminds me of the old sort with the tank in the attic. Key to why mixing hot and cold supplies is a terrible idea.

One of the best rich people flexes are those third taps that give boiling water on demand and cost something mad like 10k to install.

I guess I should get my computer ASAP afterall if its only going to get worse.
My new job will require office days fairly locally so going to be looking back at an electric bike again at some point too. Same problems as last time with finding it difficult to bring myself to pay thousands for something and lack of confidence in the cheap ones.

It's probably worth holding off on that as the technology is still coming on in leaps and there's a government consultation on e-bikes out at the moment, one of the things being looked into is removing the requirement that e-bikes are pedelacs, that is they have to be pedalled in order for the electric motor to assist.

So could well soon see e-bikes that have a 'twist and go option' without the need to pedal, though I doubt the max speed will go up past it's current 15.4mph.
Of course with the trump tariff BS, there might also be significant changes in UK tariffs, which were recently panned to change for e-bikes.   

Oh that would be nice. It's another factor been putting me off getting one - considering getting one abroad even.

Though I'm pessimistic on this consultation with all the shit about e motorbikes being called e bikes going around at the moment.

[mongers]

Oh that would be nice. It's another factor been putting me off getting one - considering getting one abroad even.

Though I'm pessimistic on this consultation with all the shit about e motorbikes being called e bikes going around at the moment.

And it seems I spoke too soon:
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/smarter-regulation-proposed-changes-to-legislation-for-electrically-assisted-pedal-cycles/outcome/proposed-changes-to-legislation-for-electrically-asisted-pedal-cycles-outcome

Consultation outcome
Proposed changes to legislation for electrically assisted pedal cycles – outcome
Updated 28 January 2025

...snip ...

Next steps

We have considered the responses and are grateful for the feedback received.

While most responses to the consultation were not in favour of the proposals, this cannot be taken to mean that this is reflective of public opinion.

While the difference between the overall number of respondents being in favour and those not in favour was relatively small, this was not the case with main stakeholder organisations, with the vast majority opposing the proposals.

Fundamentally, while we note the potential benefits to some individuals and organisations, there was a significant lack of evidence provided in response to the consultation to substantiate this. This lack of evidence also means that we cannot rule out the concerns about the proposals and research will therefore be required.

As a result of this, we will not take forward the proposals that were consulted upon. 

In the longer term, should any changes be proposed for broader micromobility, then the issue of EAPC power limits and 'twist and go' models may be reconsidered.

And on the UK tariff changes, this from the horse's mouth:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/tariffs-on-non-folding-e-bikes-from-china-revoked

News story

Tariffs on non-folding e-bikes from China revoked

Government accepts TRA recommendation to revoke anti-dumping and countervailing measures on imports of Chinese non-folding e-bikes to the UK.

From:
Trade Remedies Authority
Published
6 February 2025

The Secretary of State for Business and Trade has today (Thursday 6 February) accepted a recommendation provided by the TRA to revoke anti-dumping and countervailing measures on imports of Chinese non-folding e-bikes to the UK. Non-folding e-bikes make up around 95% of the UK's total e-bikes market.

Anti-dumping and countervailing measures on e-bikes imported from China, both folding and non-folding, were transitioned when the UK left the EU. The current anti-dumping measure is an ad valorem tariff of 10.3% to 70.1%, while the current countervailing measure is an ad valorem tariff of 3.9% to 17.2%.

The TRA found that revoking the measures on non-folding e-bikes could mean that consumers, on average, could save around £200 each as a result of being able to purchase cheaper e-bikes.

Alternative option accepted
In its transition reviews, the TRA found that keeping the measures on all imports of Chinese e-bikes would not be in the economic interest of the UK.

Under the UK's reformed trade remedies regime, if the TRA finds that a measure is not in the economic interest of the UK, it offers the Secretary of State for Business and Trade alternative options to revoking the measures.

These alternative options included only maintaining the measures on folding e-bikes as UK producers are more heavily concentrated in this market. It is this option that the Secretary of State has today accepted.

The measure only applying to folding e-bikes will come into force from 7 February 2025.

Notes to Editors
The goods investigated were classified as cycles, with pedal assistance, with an auxiliary electric motor.
The averages used here are estimates representing the average impacts across scenarios modelled.
The investigations covered the period from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023. In order to assess injury, the TRA examined the period from April 2019 to March 2023.
The TRA is the UK body that investigates whether trade remedy measures are needed to counter unfair import practices and unforeseen surges of imports.
Trade remedy investigations were carried out by the EU Commission on the UK's behalf until the UK left the EU. A number of EU trade remedy measures of interest to UK producers were carried across into UK law when the UK left the EU and the TRA is currently reviewing each one to assess whether it is suitable for UK needs.