Stupid Dail Mail article

[BruceB]

When people complain about Daily Mail articles I normally smile, thinking they are PC loonies or lefty loonies who should get a life. But the Mail has published an article by Colin Dunne today about solar panels which really is complete and utter nonsense.
Don't fall for the solar panel flannel! COLIN DUNNE did- then realised the £5,000 carbuncle on his roof will only save him money if he lives to 154 | Mail Online

 

[TedM]

It sounds like Dunne has had solar thermal installed on his roof - "tubes", "plumber", "bath". Those are 'library' photos of a PV install.

 

[Ian-LS]

Everyone replying to the article seem to think he had solar panels fitted not solar thermal. I would have though £5,000 was on the steep side for just 20 evacuated tube collectors.

Why the hell did he go ahead with a salesman in the first place? Why didn't he do his sums first as without subsidy solar thermal won't pay for itself unless the cost is a lot lower than £5,000 or hot water consumption is quite high.

He seems to think he would be saving on his electric bill as well, how exactly? If he is looking at his electric bills then of course he'll be dissapointed with his savings.

Why would you spend £5,000 on a product you don't actually know much about at all? You wouldn't spend £5,000 on a car without looking at reviews, taking it for a test drive, getting other prices from other garages/show rooms would you?

 

[Adam W]

It sounds like his biggest gripe was with allowing himself to get buttered up by the salesman.
Maybe it's just "Tory propaganda".....

 

[SibertSolar]

What a complete idiot. Isn't he supposed to be some sort of comedy writer? Articles like this completely drive me mad

 

[Outspoken]

Stupid is as stupid does. A fool and his money are soon parted...they all spring to mind..

I personally had doubts about the effectiveness of PV systems in the early days, some research, simply maths and personal experience of them in buildings soon laid those fears to rest...there is also the other side of the coin..the more Homes and businesses that install these, the more robust our national grid becomes because there is less strain on the overall system and thus there is a reduced need for massive capital investment to keep things moving forward...

As far as I am concerned the law should be changed that all new build homes should be sited such that they can utilise a minimum of a 4kW PV system on the roof from day one.

 

[SolarCity]

Even for the Daily Mail, that is a corker.

Fitting Solar Thermal and then getting confused that he isn't getting much electricity?

Clearly, the man is a tool.

 

[Gavin A]

tbf, he has obviously been fed a pack of lies and ought to be going to trading standards.

This story has nothing much to do with renewables at all, it's a straight story about door step trading / miss selling that could as easily have applied to double glazing, or any similar scam industry.

 

[SolarCity]

True, so why is this bloke writing for a national newspaper?

A quick glance at the comments section will confirm what we already knew - Daily Mail readers will believe ANYTHING. Renewable energy is a subject far too important to have these idiots writing about it.

 

[Worcester]

Beacuse it is so misleading an article (I haven't got a printed copy) - report them to the Press Complaints Committe Press Complaints Commission >> Making a Complaint >> How to make a complaint (As Leveson still has yet to be sorted out)