Five (very good) Reasons For Home Made Renewable Energy in Britain
The case for homemade renewable energy (micro-generation) seems to get stronger and stronger. A new report commissioned by the British Government provides a series of compelling reasons to put a wind-turbine in your garden, solar panels on your roof, and a combined heat and power boiler in your basement.
Lauded as “one of the most professionally conducted and robust pieces of consumer research into the micro-generation market”, the principle reasons for Britain to make a big push for micro-generation outlined by the report are:
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1. It can make a difference
Encouraging householders to produce their own sustainable energy could cut the UK’s CO2 emissions by 30m tonnes in the next two decades. This is equivalent to the energy output of 5 large nuclear power stations, equal to taking half of the goods delivery trucks off Britain’s roads.
2. It’s easily attainable
The right financial incentives could see home energy installations increase from around 100,000 today, to a massive 9 million installations by 2020 - the introduction of grants, low interest loans and feed-in tariffs in other nations (such as Germany) has shown that large numbers of consumers are willing to invest in home renewable energy solutions.
3. There are self sustaining benefits
Legally binding government targets will encourage investment in the market, increasing the efficiency and cost effectiveness of renewable technology.
4. It encourages energy conservation too
When households can see how much power they generate, as well as how much they use, they become more aware of what energy consumption means - lights are switched off, mobile phone chargers are unplugged and people become truly energy conscious.
5. Everybody’s happy
Individuals can take an active role in the battle against climate change - instead of feeling frustrated by inaction
Despite debatable claims from energy executives that the large scale adoption of renewable energy in Britain will call for even more fossil fuel power generation as a backup, it seems that the case for renewable energy has never been better.
How many good (or bad) reasons for micro-generation can you come up with?
With thanks to The Daily Telegraph
More on home renewable energy from EcoWorldly and Green Options
Image credit: thingermijig at Flickr under a Creative Commons license
‘A new report commissioned by the British Government’..
The same government that cut subsidies for householders installing solar power and made the paperwork so complex that few people now bother.
What’s the betting they held back the release of the report long enough to cut the subsidies.
Though lacking any content isn’t this what this guy is talking about: opportunistic power?
Why isn’t there more of this?
Five (very good) Reasons For Not Adopting Home Made Renewable Energy Anywhere:
1) It’s expensive… the cost doesn’t offset the current price of energy
2) It’s expensive… the cost doesn’t offset the current price of energy
3) It’s expensive… the cost doesn’t offset the current price of energy
4) It’s expensive… the cost doesn’t offset the current price of energy
5) It’s expensive… the cost doesn’t offset the current price of energy
So what’s wrong with CO2 emissions anyway? Isn’t that what trees consume?
I live in Calfornia and was very interested in solar until I learned that although you may generate more than you need in the daytime you’re charged a much higher rate for what you use when it’s dark. Thanks to the different rate structure your your monthly electric bill is close to the same as before after spend all that money on solar equipment.
but i like leaving my cell phone charger plugged in. I enjoy leaving my lights on. I enjoy having my AC run 24hrs a day 7 days a week.
Using one that is part of the grid connection to your house is a scam as far as billing is concerned.
However I installed 8 panels and a battery/capacitor array. Some friend’s and I did the labor, parts and equipment ran roughly 9,000 USD, and in the two years I have been running it I have shaved almost 5000 USD in electrical expenses.
This solution however will not yield enough cash savings for most people to compensate for 7 years or so, thus it’s often best for people who plan on living in the same place for a long time. The long term results however can be striking if you figure out your average savings and stretch it over a couple of decades.
I do wonder how much it will cost and what the “big picture” consequences of having so many batteries and capacitors will be on the environment. I am leaning towards it not being a sustainable large scale solution unless drastically less toxic batteries start being produced or some other system of power storage comes to the market.
(I own a recording studio and operate a private night club in my commercially zoned house, So yes, I DO use THAT much electricity)
“Free” power is a nice idea but it just isn’t cost effective.
What about independence? This would be my biggest reason.
i burn up my energy and I have no eco-friendly power sources, but honestly I would be more than happy to pay a bit more in order to give further generations a chance to have the same good life that i have.
I know it will cost me more and i really think its going to get worse before it gets better, but i am willing to take the responsibility so that my children, when i have them, will have the opportunity to enjoy nature as i do.
I am really bummed that so many people would rather save a buck and screw the environment and the future just to save a buck a gallon…
No need to retort on my entry, i know that a lot of you out there are more caught up in left vs. right to give a few seconds to think about the bigger picture.
… a gun owning, small business owning, left wing, techno listening, honky, 22″ rim rolling, independent….