Chit-Chat & Today’s Photo … Sta Catarina Park
TODAY’S PHOTO : Thanks to Vic … Santa Catarina park in Funchal
This came from Paul in Paul do Mar :
Madeira Birds Atlas – The website on the Madeira Birds Atlas project, is already online (still in Portuguese), It has information on the team, on which SPEA is included, methodology and much more. The team is waiting for anyone’s help in Madeira if anyone has information on Madeira’s birds’ distribution or have time to join the fieldwork they should contact. atlasdasaves@netmadeira.com and for more information visit www.atlasdasaves.netmadeira.com/
“Toss the orthopaedic footwear and bring on the Manolos! Madeira may once have been a destination for primarily blue-rinse coach guests, but it has evolved into a stylish island discovered by a new generation of travellers”. It’s mainly a limited hotel review, so if you live here I wouldn’t bother reading it. MADEIRA HOTELS
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Manolos are shoes apparently, not my style, so I will stick with the blue rinse I think.
1I reckon this foto could be of Santa Catarina park in Funchal
2I see what you mean Der about the HOTELS article.
3It writes that Choupana Hills (Hotel) is attractive to ‘young urban professionals’.
Not for us then, being “old rural amateurs”.
ho ho we’ve moved on Martin. The next teaser is next week, who knows it might even be the one you sent in, and that should stump a few people
4Apologies for posting this again – it was a late post yesterday and some of you (NOT Martin {*:*}) may have missed it – so, at the risk of boring you…….
Government subsidy covers Madeira in Solar Panels:
It’s not too late to take advantage of the National Action Plan for Energy and Efficiency implemented by the “Ministry of Economics and innovation”. Sounds like a well paid Euro initiative keeping many eurocrats in work but one that actually makes sense and could save us all money and help the old planet earth…..
Currently (until the end of the year) if you are a resident and homeowner here then you qualify for a grant of up to 60% towards the cost of having Solar Panels installed.
As long as you bank here with one of the “major” and recognised local banks (BES etc) then you also qualify for an LOW interest rate loan at 2.372% to finance your 30% of the costs involved – AND you get to make a further claim back on your IRS next year!
A typical 200 Litre, x2 panel, x1 tank system providing hot water for a household of four to five persons (x2 bathrooms min with “auto change over” to existing gas backup) should cost approx 2,700 euro, leaving you to pay approx 1,000 euro – borrowed at 2.372% for two years = approx 50 euro per month.
Figures given as guide only and for example. Do secure your own quote and visit your bank for details. Photo electric producing cells are also covered in the initiative.
From one ageing rural professional……
5Hi Jon, do you know if:
1. This price includes fitting or is that extra?
2. Do you have to take out the loan in order to qualify for the grant?
3. If not, where would you apply to for the grant?
Any further information you might pass on would be appreciated!
6Hi Elaine,
Yes, the costings given previously do include fitting costs.
No, not necessary to take out loan to qualify.
In the first instance I suggest that you approach your bank for their “approved dealers” list as recognised by the “Ministry”.
Next step is to arrange a survey and quote.
Return to bank with same, I.D. + Escritura and N.I.F. details, fill in paperwork!
Bank then liase with “Ministry” and contractors on your behalf.
Then they contact you to fit kit.
You pay your (approx) 30%.
I think that the loan is to encourage people to have the panels installed and we were assured not mandatory. I guess the Banks act as agents for the “Ministry” so as to pay the remaining amount to the contractors – no doubt they get some form of commision etc.
Our bank (B>E>S>) were well informed about the scheme and I would suggest that you (and anyone else interested) visit your bank for further details. They offer a good range of various (sized) kits with various makers – I think the figures vary a little depending on which system you opt for, again, your Bank should have all the details.
If I come up with any more info I will post – meantime Good Luck Elaine!
7Very generous deal.
Should alter the visual aspect of Madeira considerably over the next few years, with panels asprouting!
How will apartments handle these panels?
Wish we could partake of the same deal in England.
Electricity costs us in our little cottage £1200.00 pa.
Heating and hot water oil is about £900.00 pa.
Less our most generous government’s winter fuel allowance allowance of £200.00 pa.
Total for cooking, heat and light is therefore about £1900 pa.
Plus £700 pa water and sewerage.
Plus rates (Community Charge!) of £1500.00 pa.
This is with 15% Vat rising to 17.5% next year (bet it’s 20%).
Total so far :-
£3100.00 inc Vat at 15% or 5% as appropriate.
Madeira energy will be a helluva lot cheaper than poor old Britain’s have to pay especially now with solar help.
How do these annual costs in Blighty compare with a modest 2 bedroom place in Madeira?
8all my utilities (not phone / internet) add up to less than €500 a year.
9Coo!
10That’s not so bad Der.
Just had landline telephone/Internet bill, expands to roughly £500.00pa.
TV licence is now £144.50pa.
Mobile fone ‘pay as go’ at about £60pa including a month’s use in Madeira.
Thank you very much for all the helpful information Jon, we will take a vist to the bank and see how we get on.
11Martin, our Tv+phone+INet (24 hrs, no limit) costs 55 euro a month, No TV licence, my car tax is a mere 55 euro a year and of course we don’t have (need) central heating, just a few logs now and again. Water is now expensive, sometimes as much as 10 euro a month in the summer (lots of garden watering)! Must go and tread the grapes the neighbours have just given us…… You’re welcome to pop in for a glass or two as you pass through on your cruise!
A pleasure Elaine, good luck with the bank visit.
12