Pay back time.

While taking the air at Yaverland last weekend I couldn't help stopping briefly to admire the newish Ecobog. Despite a steady breeze, the little propeller on top was again stationary - perhaps it's been disabled by a cracked team of eco-saboteurs from TWATS (The Wight Against TurbineS) - which is a pity because it looks quite jaunty on the odd occasions when it does whizz round.

Even without an operational propeller though, the illuminated display revealed that the solar panels alone were providing a useful 90 watts of power, easily enough to power the illuminated display.

It also revealed the total energy savings since the place was opened, and it is impressive to think that if interest rates remain at around 1% then the system will pay for itself in just over a century. Of course, if the economy picks up in the meantime, and interest rates rise to 2% or more, then the break even point will be sometime after the Sun runs out of hydrogen and turns into a White Dwarf (remember him?).

Council leader Pughtin is very proud of his flagshit toilet replacement project, and will eloquently see off any whingers complaining about, for example, the number of potholes in our roads, with a stirring cry of "Just look at our toilets!" Strange then that his budget this week shows that of the £1.9m approved for his loo rolling programme this year only half will be spent. However, that uncharacteristic delay is no doubt not his fault and is probably down to the Undercliff Drive, the Credit Crunch and the previous administration.

One interesting side effect of the loo construction slowdown however can be seen in Ventnor, where the new Cascades Ecobog has grown a thick layer of moss and lichen on the roof even before the first punter has set foot in the place.