Your home and renewable energy - a perfect match!
Did you know?
- All TV and communications satellites are powered by solar energy using photo-voltaic cells.
- Enough sunlight falls on the earth every minute to meet the world's energy demands for an entire year.
- In 200BC people in China and the Middle East used windmills to pump water and grind grain.
- The UK is the windiest country in Europe, so much so that we could power the whole country several times over using wind energy.
The majority of the UK's electricity is generated by the burning of fossil
fuels such as coal, oil or gas. This is a major contributor to carbon
dioxide emissions.
Electricity produced from emission free sources such as nuclear or
renewable energy account for just one quarter of total electricity
generation in the UK. Green electricity, from renewable sources accounts
for a mere 5% of total UK electricity production.
There are some simple ways everyone can begin to take advantage of
renewable energy generation:
Switch to a green electricity tariff
Most energy suppliers offer 'green' electricity tariffs. The two main types
of offering are green supply tariffs and green funds.
Green supply tariffs
A proportion of the electricity you purchase will be matched by
purchase of renewable energy which the energy supplier makes on your
behalf.
Green funds
Your existing supply remains the same but a proportion of your green tariff
goes towards continued investment in the renewable energy industry which
helps to increase the number of renewable energy schemes in the UK.
Ask your existing energy supplier to give you details of the green energy
tariff it runs.
Alternatively you can compare green tariffs on any of the energy switching
and comparison websites.
Use renewable energy at home
A whole range of solar powered gadgets are now available to use at home
including solar powered battery and mobile phone chargers, outside lights
and security/shed lights
Use wind up torches, radios and lanterns - these don't rely on a mains
supply so you can use them anywhere and reduce the amount of
environmentally damaging batteries that you use.
If you are investing in home improvements, or replacing a boiler or heating
system it is worthwhile investigating the cost of installing solar panels
for water heating, or electricity generation. There are grants available to
help with the cost of installation.
Solar Electricity - these panels will generate electricity
for use in your home by turning the sun's energy into electricity by using
photo-voltaic panels. Panels can fit to your roof or wall and don't
actually need sunlight to work - they will still produce energy on a cloudy
day.
Solar PV panels are now eligible to benefit from the Feed in Tariff scheme
- see side panel for details.
Solar Hot Water - these panels use the sun's energy to
heat domestic hot water, which is then stored in a tank until needed. The
panels will produce free hot water most of the year, although through the
winter months further heating of the water may be needed.
A solar water heating system can reduce your water heating
bill by between £55 and £95 per year.
