domestic energy efficiency

Greenpeace studies makes economic case for low carbon heat push

Marketing campaign group has current evaluation of the prospective impacts of introducing extra power economical domestic heating to get into account sizeable rises in power price ranges through 2022

A programme to enhance use of reduced carbon heating devices and travel domestic strength effectiveness enhancements can have significant financial and environmental gains for the Uk. Environmental campaign group Greenpeace Uk has designed the promises in a new report on the lookout at the probable impacts for incentivising reduce carbon heat improvements.

It argued that decarbonisation measures will come to be significantly beneficial with the predicted additional increase in electricity selling prices as a result of increasingly expensive world wide gasoline materials.

The results construct on 2021 investigation from the Cambridge Econometrics consultancy hunting at the economic scenario for decarbonizing heating in properties. Greenpeace mentioned it experienced updated this analysis to variable in a sequence of hikes in gasoline, electrical power and heating oil charges. This bundled environment out predictions for how electricity charges may well adjust up to 2030.

Greenpeace added that the positive aspects of ending a mass current market reliance in the United kingdom on fossil fuels and increased carbon warmth could noticeably strengthen the Uk financial state.

The report stated: “New electrical power price tag assumptions have an impact on the buyer expenditures element of the modelling. The modelling final results demonstrate that, when struggling with bigger gas and heating oil charges, much larger savings can be obtained by consumers when they switch from fossil gas-dependent heating systems to heat pumps.”

“These savings outweigh the better charges involved with managing a heat pump procedure underneath larger electrical energy selling price assumptions.”

The exploration also claimed that a quantity of significant additional societal benefits could be realised by decreasing desire for organic gas and heating oil in homes.

This integrated enhanced degrees of wellness and wellbeing in occupants, as well as advancements to air excellent and an over-all reduction in gas poverty premiums nationally. Air quality rewards had been straight attributed in the conclusions to the reduction in direct carbon emissions from boilers and other units running solely on oil or all-natural fuel.

The publication of Greenpeace’s examination arrives as Primary Minister Liz Truss announced previously this thirty day period that the British isles federal government would introduce a taxpayer-funded freeze of power price ranges along with commitments to evaluation the country’s net zero plan by the conclude of the 12 months.

The prime minister claimed at the time that she would: “conduct a evaluation to make certain we supply web zero by 2050 in a way that is pro-business enterprise and professional-expansion.”

There has been no particular facts of how this evaluate could affect commitments outlined in the UK’s not long ago released heat, vitality and web zero tactics, this sort of as programs to commence installing 600,000 heat pumps a year from 2028 onwards as a direct substitution for purely natural fuel boilers.

A selection of field bodies have having said that, identified as for the new prime minister and her Cabinet to extend and construct on current commitments to incentivise heat decarbonisation and strength efficiency advancements in houses.

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By nigemord@gmail.com / September 20, 2022

Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng domestic energy efficiency green levies heat prices insulation net zewro strategy News Prime Minister Liz Truss UK Green Building Council (UKGBC)

Government announces energy price plan and net zero policy review

Initial federal government proposals find to cap strength charges as element of broader reforms that will include a evaluate of how internet zero plan can be sent in a way that is “pro-organization and professional-growth”

Key Minister Liz Truss has pledged to fix the “typical” once-a-year power bill at a maximum family amount of £2,500 in a response to issues about climbing heating costs.

Ms Truss, who assumed the role of key minister before this 7 days, has stopped shorter of applying incentives to strengthen house efficiency and ramp up adoption of possibilities to natural fuel boilers as requested by a vary of campaigners and development trade bodies. Instead, the wide proposals have outlined several proposals to reform the electrical power current market and look at how ability is created and dispersed for functions these kinds of as warmth.

In a speech outlining the wide aims of the government’s two-12 months Vitality Price tag Assurance, Ms Truss stated that she would also be suspending ‘green levies’ – at minimum quickly.

These levies have beforehand imposed on consumer costs to help fund initiatives this sort of as renewable energy era strategies and gas poverty alleviation measures.

The government’s proposals also purpose to accelerate “all sources” of domestic electrical power manufacturing that will incorporate north sea oil and fuel. This will also see the finish of a ban on shale fuel extraction pending regional consultations and approval. Ambitions to accelerate the generation of new sources of renewable electricity this kind of as nuclear, wind and photo voltaic power have been also established out by the govt.

Web zero evaluate

Another determination that could have a significant affect on foreseeable future heating and electricity plan was a strategy to overview how the UK’s authorized goal to turn out to be a net zero carbon financial state by 2050 could be realised in an “economically-efficient way”. This critique will be chaired by MP Chris Skidmore and is anticipated to be published by the end of the yr to assess the effect of better strength selling prices on sustainability targets.

Ms Truss stated: “We will perform a evaluate to make certain we produce net zero by 2050 in a way that is pro-enterprise and professional-advancement.”

The primary minister turned down phone calls from the Labour Bash to partly fund the electricity selling price proposals as a result of a ‘windfall tax’ on the revenues of gas and oil producers. There was also no mention of a approach to insulate millions of Uk houses to minimize general vitality desire for warmth that has also been set forward by Labour..

New British isles Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng is anticipated to deliver additional particulars on how the Power Value Assure will be funded afterwards this thirty day period in a fiscal statement that will reflect a improve of management in the Treasury.

UKGBC response

The Uk Inexperienced Creating Council said it welcomed the new key minister’s pledge to acquire action on the soaring price of electrical power. Nonetheless, the organisation stated it also hoped to see action to reduce vitality squander in the lengthy-time period when heating residences, enterprise and other buildings.

Simon McWhirter, director of communications for coverage and places at the UKGBC, reported that a failure to introduce a national plan to insulate and increase the energy efficiency of developing risked community revenue becoming needed to address strength costs for a lot of yrs to come.

He stated: “The prime minister can resolve many issues by asserting a countrywide programme to improve our buildings and shift our heating programs from fuel to renewable vitality. Not only will it lessen the need for govt borrowing, the competent careers and financial increase this would carry would make a real contribution to levelling up and national restoration.”

“Next on the primary minister’s agenda must be to will get to grips with the alternatives and difficulties which lie in the constructed atmosphere business. Regardless of currently being the cause of some of the most pressing environmental and social troubles confronting the British isles, and the 2nd biggest resource of carbon emissions, no significant progress has been made in direction of decarbonising the country’s structures in a ten years.”

A further issue about very long-term creating and heating coverage was the require to make sure that all new building work was getting carried out in line with the legal necessity to decarbonise the overall economy. Such an strategy would also limit the need to have for retrofit work to guarantee structures have been capable to adapt to the impacts of local weather adjust these types of as with floods, droughts, heatwaves and adverse chilly, the UKGBC extra.

Mr McWhirter explained: “The Potential Properties and Structures Typical, set to be introduced in 2025, is one shorter-time period option to transfer in the right way, nonetheless proposals to day are woefully insufficient.”

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By nigemord@gmail.com / September 9, 2022

Climate Change Committee (CCC) domestic energy efficiency electricity cost Energy Security Strategy energy tariffs flow temperature National Infrastructure Commission new cabinet News Prime Minister Liz Truss

New prime minister pushed on backing for low carbon heat

Unbiased environmental watchdog advising the federal government phone calls on new prime minister to construct on present commitments to small carbon warmth and domestic electricity effectiveness

Key Minister Liz Truss is currently being urged by unbiased specialists to develop the UK’s commitments to setting up decreased carbon heating and guarantee far more power successful properties.

The Local weather Modify Committee (CCC) and the Countrywide Infrastructure Fee have jointly called on the new British isles premier on her initially working day to uphold the most important aims of the government’s British Power Safety Method and the Web Zero Tactic that have equally been published more than the final twelve months.

This motivation ought to include things like extended-expression strategies and incentives to help fight surging electricity prices that are predicted to go on until finally 2023, when also making sure electricity and heat can be decarbonised nationally by 2050.

The letter has been revealed as the new prime minister this week begins to install her new Cabinet workforce that marks a considerable range of ministerial improvements from her predecessor Boris Johnson. This has incorporated the appointment of MP Jacob Rees-Mogg as Secretary of Condition for Enterprise, Energy and Industrial Method – a selection that has garnered sizeable media awareness centered on his earlier opinions blaming the travel to web zero for substantial fuel costs.

With the adjustments at the leading of government, the two the CCC and Nationwide Infrastructure Fee have demanded that the government’s former commitments to very low carbon heat are shipped and expanded to raise the adoption of heat pumps throughout the British isles.

The joint letter urges Key Minister Truss to preserve a authorities commitment to evaluation present-day power tariffs as soon as achievable to incentivise the electrification of heat that can straight make use of renewable vitality. These tariffs presently favour use of gas around energy t

It said, “The authorities requirements to sustain its stage of ambition for reduced-carbon warmth. Accelerating the enhancement of current market mechanisms need to travel installation costs up and charges down, strengthen competent work and improve accessibility to minimal-price tag finance for heating units.”

“But the present-day proposals have threats. One particular these types of hazard is the persistently higher cost of electrical energy relative to gasoline, which acts as a disincentive to switch from gasoline boilers.”

Underneath the previous primary minister, the governing administration reported in its Net Zero Technique that it would seem to critique and rebalance tariffs on strength materials about the training course of the current decade.

Apparent guidelines to boost the strength effectiveness of equally domestic and non-domestic structures is a further recommendation in the letter. These actions would serve to reduce over-all electricity demand and assure the transition to making use of very low carbon warmth, the letter extra.

The CCC and the Countrywide Infrastructure Commission have named for the growth of clean policies that would assure that operator-occupied houses throughout the country meet a bare minimum effectiveness rating of EPC band C by 2035.

Comparable improvements are referred to as for even quicker in the rental sector. The joint letter has proposed necessitating the similar score concentrate on to be fulfilled by 2028 and demanded contemporary policy for business homes as a means to increase electricity performance.

Flow temperature and performance information support

One more suggestion in the open letter is for the introduction of a complete company for offering distinct information close to power and heat effectiveness enhancements for creating proprietors and stop consumers.

This was witnessed as currently being an vital action to make on the service declared previously this calendar year in the British Power Security System and tackle the constrained community awareness about how to lower vitality use in houses and enterprises for capabilities such as warmth, the CCC mentioned.

It mentioned, “Specific assistance on this could help in the in close proximity to phrase by raising consciousness of minimal or zero-price actions that could minimize squandered electrical power straightaway, these types of as lowering boiler flow temperatures, and simple draught proofing. Lowering boiler move temperatures can cut down gas consumption by itself by six to 8 per cent. This assistance can also give households and organizations with thorough information and facts about for a longer period-term steps, these as lower carbon heating.”

Other suggestions in the joint letter have been for the key minister to glance at rising renewable electricity era nationally to aid lessen a reliance on normal fuel that continues to be the primary source of heat in the British isles.

Any commitments to renewable strength technology should really be incorporated in the final Nationwide Plan Statements (NPS) that is yet to be published. The NPS will element the plan priorities for deploying and arranging national strength infrastructure.

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By nigemord@gmail.com / September 7, 2022

domestic energy efficiency electricity costs Energy Security Strategy Federation of Master Builders Ground Source Heat Pump Association Heat Pump Insight Heat Pump Investment Accelerator Competition heat pump manufacture News renewable energy Worcester Bosch

UK Energy Security Strategy fails to set out fresh energy efficiency support

The United kingdom has committed £30m to assistance warmth pump manufacture and will also ramp up domestic supplies of nuclear and renewable energy along with North Sea gas and oil

The Uk will expand hydrogen creation and invest £30m in heat pump manufacture as portion of a new Power Safety System that omits any clean funding for domestic strength performance advancements.

Plans to ramp up homegrown generation of nuclear, photo voltaic, onshore and offshore wind electricity, as very well as oil and fuel electrical power, are between the broad provisions of the method. The commitments are intended to handle a world surge in electricity costs and wider provide chain fears connected to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This is noticed as a very important suggests of curbing countrywide dependence on foreign international locations for gasoline to warmth and electrical power houses and buildings in the British isles.

A government push launch saying areas of the method stated that a ‘Heat Pump Financial investment Accelerator Competition’ would be released this 12 months with a price of up to £30m to persuade heat pump manufacture. This is supposed to cut down domestic need for organic fuel for the applications of heat.

The new power approach has also committed to rebalance the cost of strength costs to persuade a buyer change in direction of electric power for the applications of powering warmth. A big purpose of the rebalancing will be to guarantee that heat pumps turn into comparatively cheap to operate when compared to boilers that operate predominantly on pure fuel.

Proposals for how the government will intention to make improvements to the prices of running warmth pumps, specially for lessen cash flow households, are expected at some position afterwards this year.

These measures will be carried out alongside the previously declared launch of the Boiler Improve Plan that launches this calendar year with the intention to incentivise very low carbon heat adoption.

Insulation omission

Nevertheless, the total method has not announced any more funding or incentives to actively enhance the over-all electrical power performance of the UK’s constructing stock to lessen heating desire. The difficulty of vitality expenses is specially vital for lower income households that are predicted to be most severely hit by energy boosts.

The govt has dedicated to develop 10GW of hydrogen output in the United kingdom by 2030 – this would double present commitments. At minimum half of this generation potential is meant to be environmentally friendly hydrogen that is developed via renewable energy this kind of as excess offshore wind electrical power, the government claimed.

It stated, “This will not only provide cleaner strength for important British industries to shift away from pricey fossil fuels, but could also be employed for cleaner electricity, transport and perhaps warmth.”

A conclusion on whether the federal government expects hydrogen to have a role in immediately heating British isles homes is envisioned to be made in 2026.

Other provisions in the strategy contain a determination to raise Uk photo voltaic power era abilities by 2035 by as much as five times the present countrywide ability of 14GW.

Reforms to the current organizing requirements will be launched with the aim to cut the common length of the acceptance process to develop offshore wind farms to a single yr from all-around four several years. The strategy also sets out ambitions for 50GW of wind electric power to be generated in the Uk by 2030. An approximated 5GW of this electric power is envisioned to arrive from floating wind farms located in deeper seas.

Along with the commitments to renewable energy manufacturing, the authorities reported it would also offer new licences for oil and natural gasoline extraction projects in the North Sea that will be launched afterwards this year. The government’s argument for like an ongoing concentration on extracting these fossil fuels is to cut down desire for foreign electricity imports. Domestic output of fossil fuels is anticipated to have some price tag and carbon reduction benefits over imported provides.

A governing administration statement asserting the Power Stability Technique also reiterated a commitment to quit charging VAT for a vary of electrical power preserving developing solutions these types of as heat pumps and insulation resources that was declared in last month’s Spring Statement. The VAT aid will be furnished for a five-yr period of time up until 2027.

Field response

A group of trade bodies symbolizing heat pump brands and suppliers have supplied a mixed reaction to the first energy stability proposals established out by the government.

Laura Bishop, Chair of the Ground Resource Warmth Pump Affiliation, said the proposals had been a skipped opportunity to supply much more immediate help to defend homes from the elevated cost of warmth and power.

She reported, “Instead of focusing on instant steps to minimize dependence on highly-priced imported gas, including accelerating the rollout of warmth pumps, the tactic focuses on the government’s favoured electricity generating systems, including these with extensive direct in times. This will do practically nothing to tackle the rapid charge of residing and strength crises experiencing Uk people.”

“We welcome the announcement of a new grant completion for Uk warmth pump producing and a governing administration details internet site for warmth pumps, but once again, this will do very little in the small-term to improve heat pump need, or set the United kingdom on program to delivering the Primary Minister’s goal of 600,000 warmth pumps for every year by 2028. “

Ms Bishop mentioned that there was no supplemental funding to assistance a change in excess of to warmth pumps or any aspects on when the governing administration may perhaps act on earlier mentioned strategies to deal with the increased cost of electrical power as opposed to normal gasoline.

A different sector reaction from the Heat Pump Association (HPA) argued that there has by no means been a much more significant time to inspire heat pump adoption in Uk properties as a outcome of the existing expenditures of gas.

HPA Chair Phil Hurley explained, “The electrification of warmth enables energy security by supplying option to how electrical electricity is generated or migrated to renewable vitality around time, and it is welcome to see this reflected in the Electrical power Stability System revealed right now. Not only can warmth pumps reduce carbon now but their advantages will boost above time as the grid continues to decarbonise.”

Worcester Bosch, a company of boilers and heat pump devices, expressed a particular desire in commitments in the Strength Protection Technique.

Carl Arntzen, the company’s chief executive, reported it notably welcomed the announcement to double targets for hydrogen creation by 2030.

He claimed, “So it is great to see that upon its release nowadays, the governing administration have doubled on their concentrate on for hydrogen production by 2030 from 5GW to 10GW. This is one thing that we at Worcester Bosch have been pushing for some time, offered hydrogen’s viable posture as an different gas for domestic heating. This amplified generation could final result in hundreds of properties being heated by either 100 for each cent hydrogen gas or within just a blend with purely natural gas.”

“We see hydrogen enjoying an essential role on the highway to web zero, doing the job along with other very low carbon technologies such as warmth pumps. The Electricity Technique release today highlights that coverage makers may possibly also agree.”

Performance phone calls

The Federation of Learn Builders (FMB) has in the meantime expressed criticism of a deficiency of any new measures to increase the effectiveness of 29 million existing households throughout the region.

It explained that effectiveness improvement measures would provide to cut strength payments for heating and also lessen carbon emissions from structures.

Brian Berry, FMB main govt, reported the tactic had ‘missed the mark’ in regards to minimizing domestic strength usage.

He mentioned, “After the disappointment of the Heat and Buildings Method this was an chance for governing administration to put into practice a Countrywide Retrofit Tactic, focussing on enhancing the power effectiveness of the UK’s draughty and leaky residences. Though the technique does produce for each cent VAT on strength performance advancements to qualities, a welcome transfer that the FMB has very long been campaigning for, this only aids people with the cash to pay in the 1st position.”

“A broader, insulation led, retrofit method would have been an rapid solution to decrease electricity usage, boost the financial system and importantly, aid preserve homeowners dollars on their charges for the duration of a price tag-of-residing crises.”

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By nigemord@gmail.com / April 7, 2022

Association for Decentralised Energy (ADE) domestic energy efficiency fuel poverty campaign Ground Source Heat Pump Association insulation incentives National Insulation Authority (NIA) News VAT on retrofit

Industry ramps up pressure on government for energy efficiency incentives

Joint letter calling for VAT aid on steps to improve the energy efficiency of current residences demonstrates broader industry calls to incentivise insulation work and reduced carbon technologies

A coalition of HVAC, development and insulation trade bodies has urged Chancellor Rishi Sunak to reduce implementing VAT to a range of retrofit services supposed to boost building power performance.

A joint letter composed to the chancellor has urged him to contemplate scrapping an present 20 per cent VAT fee on retrofit will work in existing structures to aid reduce warmth demand from customers and lessen resulting vitality prices and carbon emission.

The phone calls replicate broader attempts from across the building engineering sector to pressure the government to ramp up incentives to considerably boost the effectiveness of British isles properties to guidance reduce carbon heating techniques and curb overall need on fossil fuels.

The most current calls have been backed by groups which include the Affiliation for Decentralised Energy (ADE), the Nationwide Insulation Authority (NIA) and associates of the Floor Resource Heat Pump Affiliation. Signatories of the letter argue that taking away VAT on a lot more in depth retrofit do the job would provide govt assist in line with tax incentives presently supported for new making tasks.

The joint letter said, “As newbuild tasks have zero rated VAT used to power effectiveness measures, it incentivises replacement of present properties alternatively than retrofitting current constructions, irrespective of retrofitting resulting in much reduce in general carbon emissions than substitute.”

Signatories of the joint letter, which signify heat networks professionals and heat pump providers, have argued that domestic power effectiveness is an ever more critical problem for the public. These worries are envisioned to intensify with the rate of gasoline established to considerably improve from April onwards. A scheduled increase in the vitality price tag cap owing to the escalating expenses of gas will see energy payments increase on regular by over £600 for every 12 months for some 22 million United kingdom properties.

Long term proofing argument

The joint letter argued that though vitality efficiency advancements were being not an outright alternative for tackling elevated power expenditures, they would provide to help upcoming evidence British isles residences to be much less reliant on fossil fuels.

The removal of charging VAT on electrical power performance measures for retrofit assignments would thus provide as an important stimulus for decreasing carbon emissions from buildings just before the fourth carbon funds, according to the signatories.

They said, “It would boost the power performance of the UK’s housing stock, lessening gasoline expenditures to individuals and therefore decrease the impression on the gasoline poor.”

“Removing the VAT would also assist all those to retrofit their homes who at this time are unable to manage to do so and act as a quick turnaround, no regrets fiscal stimulus. It would also enhance desire for retrofitting and therefore aid the UK’s inexperienced retail finance sector by rising lender’s self confidence in client demand from customers for vitality efficiency.”

The letter has been posted as big gas poverty campaigners are also calling on the governing administration to scale up incentives and other help for domestic electricity efficiency advancements as the region braces for increased heating costs this year.

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By nigemord@gmail.com / March 3, 2022

2022 domestic energy efficiency Energy Action Scotland fuel costs fuel poor homes gas prices National Energy Action (NEA) net zero heat News UK fuel poverty

Charity warns fuel poverty aims intertwined with low carbon heat progress

United kingdom-based mostly charities argue that additional efficient strategies to strengthen domestic energy effectiveness and introduce small carbon heat can deal with issues about stages of gas poverty across the nation

A charity has warned that predicted will increase in gasoline price tag over the system of 2022 will raise the chance of gasoline poverty without having important performance improvements in houses.

Nationwide Energy Action, together with Vitality Motion Scotland (EAS), have marked the occasion of Gasoline Poverty Awareness Working day on 3 December with the launch of a report warning that ambitions to curb carbon emissions from heating was deeply intertwined with gasoline poverty difficulties.

The report was significant in distinct of the scale of gas poverty commitments in the UK’s delayed Warmth and Developing Method that last established out wide pledges for countrywide plans to decarbonise households for the following a few several years.

The NEA reported that the financial investment pledged in the government’s heating system and the not long ago revealed Internet Zero System was significantly less than 50 percent the quantity of money help promised in the 2019 Conservative election manifesto for the the very least successful and most intensely polluting houses.

Research from both of those charities said that substantial boundaries existed to introducing reduced carbon technologies into gasoline inadequate households. This was hampered by a deficiency of clarity on the medium-expression and lengthy-term upcoming of electricity efficiency strategies and clean warmth funding commitments.

Matt Copeland, plan and community affairs head at the NEA, explained there were being substantial worries about the affordability of cleaner heat, specially in lower-income or productive households.

He stated, “The poorest households do not have the money to devote in the technologies that will cut down their carbon emissions, and though the techniques to meet net zero across the British isles set an ambition to guarantee that affordability is central, a lot a lot more should be done to realize this.”

“To finish the struggling of gas very poor homes wintertime just after winter season, there have to be sizeable sustained financial investment in levelling-up houses. Devoid of it, the litmus examination of a reasonable changeover will have been failed, and there will be a significant danger of leaving the poorest households behind.”

Frazer Scott, director of the report’s co-writer Energy Motion Scotland, claimed that gasoline poverty was approximated to effect 1 in four Scottish residences. He said the charity was hence contacting for a renewed aim to prioritise addressing gas poverty and decreasing carbon emissions from home.

He explained, “There is enormous possible to remodel the lives of susceptible people, people on low incomes, people today with chaotic and hard lives but this requires to be focused, inclusive, proactive and honest.”

Charge fears

The NEA reported that difficulty of gas poverty would turn into significantly sizeable over the class of 2022 with fears that modifications to the UK’s vitality price tag cap could see once-a-year gas bills increase by as considerably as £550. The improvements are established to arrive into impact from April.

Adam Scorer, NEA main govt, stated as several as 4.5 million British isles houses could be struggling with affording warmth price ranges at a time in which the charge of vital solutions were viewed as remaining at their maximum for a 10 years.

Mr Scorer said, “Bills have amplified by properly in excess of £230 since very last winter season and hundreds of thousands now experience a everyday warmth or try to eat dilemma. We estimate vitality expenses will rocket once more in April, doubling the normal householders’ heating charges because final year.”

“Over the identical period of time, individuals on the lowest incomes have noticed their income plummet by around £1,000 per calendar year. Just think about that. For folks presently on a budgetary knife-edge, the charge of trying to keep a family warm has exploded while budgets have collapsed. No amount of handy ideas or savvy searching can cope with that.”

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By nigemord@gmail.com / December 9, 2021