Is Scotland's Landscape Being Ruined? - Rant

[Tracey]

Hi Andy
My train journey to work takes me through Rainham Marshes
http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/r ... /about.asp - if your interested, and saves my bungled explanation . The new France London train link tunnel emerges just before the marshes from Kent and the track then raises and goes over the marshes effectively cutting out most of a spectacular view, if your interested in nature that is.
Then.......further on in industrial Dagenham you have 2 wind turbines that look so graceful in amoungst the the hard steele pylons, they look like ballet dancers dancing, and i love em .
I do like the look of "Industry". I live quite close to Tilbury Docks and i dont find that a blot on the landscape either remembering what an important part of the past the Docks everywhere were.

[LesleyB]

Hi all
Having been in Germany a couple of years ago where there were quite a number of wind turbines, I'd have to say I found them interesting rather than a "blot on the landscape". Rather have them than power stations, but obviously it depends where they are placed! There are a couple of large wind turbines in Dundee which look good, I think. Rather like giant sculptural forms.

The thing which I've noticed recently which appears to be very wasteful (OK, apart from resident teenagers who seem to think electricity is free ) is all these offices and banks whose lights seem to be left on all night and all weekend! And...guess who's paying for that????

Best wishes
Lesley

[Ina]

We have hundreds of wind turbines here in the California desert. I love the look of them. I don't think I'd like to live next door to them though.

They are usually built on the hills away from residential areas.

Ina

[joette]

Yep Ina my first view of Palm Springs was this beautiful expansive wind farm as you fly in over the mountains.Also a great view when I dared to look when going up on the cable car-in between overcoming my lifelong vertigo & comforting my almost hysterical niece who was clinging to the pole in the middle & crying her eyes out with fear.
I am doing my bit for the envoiroment by not ironing my clothes ,I don't drive a car,walk or public transport.I try to eat locally sourced food & the less packaging the better.I use energy saving bulbs although I hate them, they give me headaches.
As to the stand-by TV's well that's what wakes me in the AM afraid an alarm clock just doesn't work I need the noise & the light.
I am ruthless about switching off lights & have timers on the hall & stairs- Great aerobic excercise beat the timer!

[David Douglas]

The good thing about the wind turbines and the pylons is that one day, they'll no longer be needed, and once removed will leave hardly a trace to show they were ever there.

Yes, our generation might worry about aesthetic issues, but surely doing permanent damage to the environment, like burning fossil fuels, is a moral issue that our children and grandchildren will one day curse us for.

I'm wondering, by the way, who on Lewis are the supporters and who are the opponents of the wind farm plans? Often, wealthier 'settlers' from big cities are the ones to articulately voice their disapproval, while less-well-off locals welcome the jobs it brings.

I saw a demonstration in Edinburgh on TV a few years ago. Protesting against some wind farm in the Highlands, I noticed a distinct accent in their chanting. Not, "No, No, No", but "Ne-ohw, Ne-ohw, Ne-owh". Not locals, then...?

[jennyblain]

There are some issues about migratory birds and wind turbines, that the RSPB have picked up on. But these may be a tad overdone... migration routes need serious consideration but sometimes I have the feeling that people are using the birds argument for non-'birds' reasons.

This is something I'm following quite keenly - I do have a lot of concerns about the wildlife, but these need to be balanced against the many other such concerns about effects of pollution and, in general, warming.

Jenny

[scml]

This has been a very interesting topic, and I must say, something we all need to do think hard about. We are all starting to do our bit, with power saving light bulbs, and conserving energy where ever we can, but one thing I would like to see is all the lights being turned off at night in those big office buildings in the cities. I don't see any reason for them being left on. Also the use of flashing signs. They could be kept to something simple and easy to see.
That would certainly cut down the power consumption.

[David Douglas]

Also, start looking out for the new LED bulbs. Philips has some just coming on to the market, in all the standard bulb sizes, that consume only 1 or 2 Watts, last for 50,000 hours, have a warm white colour, and switch on immediately.

This is within a couple of years going to finally finish off the incandescent bulb, and also the low-energy bulbs on the market today that have the disadvantages of giving a cold light, slow to switch on, and containg heavy metals.

In lots of countries, this could mean that the power used for domestic lighting should drop to just a few percent of what it is today. But in some countries, subsidised electricity is so cheap that there's no incentive to invest in new technology.

[Lorna Allison]

That is great, great news. Warm light and coming on immediately.

Also, I'm sitting here in a smallish house on the very edge of a rather active burn/small river. It can be an absolute torrent in winter but reduce to almost nothing in summer if there is a drought. Is there really a way of harnessing power from the likes of that, which would be cost effective and low maintenance?

Lorna