Solar Powered Bin to Reduce CO2 Emissions

The UK seaside resort of Torbay is trialling a US designed bin run on solar power, you may ask why a bin needs to be powered at all, but this bin is special. Aptly named "Big Belly" by its US manufacturer Seahorse Power Company, the bin is designed to compact waste on the spot using the power generated from the solar panel. The bin can hold up to five times that of a bin of equivalent size, preventing the bins from overflowing and seagulls from enjoying a feast on the disposed food contained within. Through the simple act of compacting the waste, this results in the need for fewer collections, saving the emissions of vehicles and man power from regularly emptying. But the "Big Belly" comes with a big price tag in comparison to standard waste disposal units, each unit costs approximately £1900 ($3600), a little more for optional extras such as bear-proofing. But over time this will be recouped through reduced labour cost through collection of the bins. However, it would be nice to see a similar system introduced with recycling facilities for PET and Aluminium. If the trial is a success, the bins will be installed across Torbay.

"We must be able to think outside the box and be willing to try new ideas. The council has already planned a major clean up drive in Torbay this summer targeting street cleaning, graffiti, public toilets and litter. We hope that this latest trial will compliment the work whilst also helping the environment."
Jeanette Richards, Torbay Council, Cabinet Member

With Big Belly's in most major US cities, and slowly creeping across the globe this is one product which is sure to be making its way to a city near you in the future.

For more information and details how to order visit the Seahorse Power Company.

UK Government Launch Carbon Footprint Calculator

David Miliiband, Environment Secretary (Transcript Below)

Today Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) officially launched the Act On CO2 carbon footprint calculator using DEFRA figures. The calculator takes into account three elements in our daily lives, home, electrical appliances and travel. The concept behind the calculator is to allow users to see the impact that their lifestyle is having on climate change, through CO2 emissions, and hopefully do something about it. From the figures input it will also offer advice and guidence on how to reduce the users footprint and possibly save them money too in the form of an action plan. Answers can be saved through registration to the site, and can be reviewed later should you wish to watch the progress in the reduction of your carbon footprint.

The calculator is currently running slow due to the huge demand on the website since its inception today.

The software that runs the calculator, complete with the Government data, will be made freely available under general public licence. This will enable others wanting to use the software to power their own calculators, using their own branding, and will soon be available on this site.

DEFRA is encouraging everyone to use the calculator, to become more aware of their carbon dioxide emissions, and to take action on ways to reduce it. They are also keen to receive feedback about how the calculator can be improved. Following the feedback received, more features will be included in updates.

Transcript of David Miliband's Video Message;

"We all know green issues have gone up the political agenda. We also know that as well as government taking a lead, business doing the technological innovation that’s so important in the battle against climate change, individuals want to make a contribution too. That’s what this podcast is all about and it’s what the carbon calculator is designed to help achieve.

Individual decisions about home heating, about electrical appliances about transport account for nearly 50% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions, the pollution that causes global warming. Many people want to make a difference but they don’t know how to. That’s what the carbon calculator is designed to help achieve: Real differences in individuals’ lives, hopefully helping them in their wallet but also helping the environment.

The carbon calculator is simple to use. I’m using it myself. I’m about average at the moment but I don’t think they’ve fully taken on board all of my travel. Anyway, it looks at your home heating, your electrical appliances and your personal travel. It’s got about 15 or 20 questions that you have to fill in and the simple rationale is that when people are given information about how to do the right thing, they will. So as well as telling you your carbon number, your pollution number, it will also tell you what you can do to reduce the impact of your decisions on the environment; turning down your thermostat, thinking about alternative modes of travel, switching to renewable electricity - all of them are part of this - I think, user friendly approach to helping individuals make a difference.

We’re doing something unusual as well in publishing this carbon calculator in draft. We’re trying to make it better and the best way to make it better is for you to use it and send us your comments about how user friendly it is, so we hope you’ll do that. In the process you can make a contribution to what I think is the great challenge for our time

Thank you very much indeed."


If you would like to comment on today's announcement or on the calculator, feel free to leave a reply to this article

Tesco Offer "Naked" Deliveries

Today Tesco announced in an email campaign to their online shopping users that they will be implementing "naked" deliveries. The email titled "Naked Deliveries and Half Price Fruit and Vegetables!" points out "It's not our drivers who might be naked, it's our shopping without bags. Our customers told us that we use too many carrier bags so we're doing something about it."

Tesco are showing their commitment to continually reduce the 18 billion carrier bags we use per year in the UK and this is why they have implemented this new addition to their delivery service. This new feature to their Green Clubcard Points scheme has been long overdue with some websites touting Tesco used on average one bag for every two and a half items. When ordering if you decide to opt for "naked" deliveries, you will be rewarded with Green Clubcard Points. 1 Green Clubcard Point for every 10 items ordered.

The service has been available for two years for customers in Ireland.

"Delivery without bags is both a win for our customers and the environment."
Laura Wade-Gery, Tesco.com

They do note however in their FAQ, "It is important to think carefully before selecting to have your delivery without bags, particularly in the following situations:

• You prefer the driver not to come into your home and therefore normally have your shopping unloaded at the doorstep.
• You live in a property that is difficult for your driver to access with green trays."

For More Information visit Tesco.com

Picture: Cow Bins Installed at M5 to be Removed

Bins installed in a field adjacent to the M5 motorway near Weston-super-Mare to raise public awareness to recycling are to be removed after the waste management firm Taylor, received emails which suggested it is causing traffic disruption.

The unusual Friesian-patterned "herd" is part of an initiative to encourage young people to recycle waste. The bins primarily designed for use in schools are proven to deliver 61% increase in recycling. The bins from the field will be given to schools in the local area from September.

"We are most concerned to ensure that our display does not give rise to a hazard. Before we put the Cowbins there, our health and safety manager spoke to the county council and Highways Agency and they didn't have any concerns about them. We also looked at other much more noticeable and potentially distracting features such as the wicker man by the M5 near Taunton and noted even that did not cause the slowing down of traffic to look at it. If there was any doubt at all, removing them was the safest option."
Dr David Gillett, Sales and Marketing Director, Taylor

Video: Eco Rally Brighton to London

Television presenter Robert Llewellyn (Scrapheap Challenge and Red Dwarf) records his part in the Eco Rally from Brighton to London on Tuesday 5th June, driving the Modec electric van.

Part One
Part Two

Offsetting With Bamboo

Recently I was considering planting something to help offset my CO2 emissions, not like a forest or anything major, just something for in my small city centre back garden. Trees are certainly not a great choice, and the neighbours might object to anything too large, plus it certainly would not look right.

Whilst trawling around the internet, bamboo seems like the ideal solution to my constraints. Bamboo is quick-growing, versatile , non-timber forest product whose rate of biomass generation is unsurpassed by any other plant. Each year bamboo will increase its total biomass by ten to thirty percent, in comparison trees achieve an increase of two to five percent. In addition to this bamboo offers the versatility that it has a variety of purposes, it has been used in housing, furniture and the construction industry in Asia, where for centuries it has been used to create scaffolding which can tower to hundreds of storeys high. The pictures (not they are big files) are from Hong Kong, of a building around 30 storeys high, as you can see, they have used bamboo scaffolding to create a cocoon around the structure from which construction work can be carried out. Those that have travelled to Asia's major cities will know that buildings like this are a regular occurrence as the economies in these regions continue to develop.

So why choose bamboo over trees? Bamboo minimizes CO2 gases and generates up to 35% more oxygen then equivalent stand of trees sequestering 62 tonnes of CO2 per hectare per year, a forest of young trees sequester only 15 tonnes per hectare over an equivalent time period. Bamboo removes CO2 from the atmosphere through photosynthesis by using carbon as an energy source and converting it into plant tissue which releases oxygen (O2) as a by-product.

There are over 1500 species of bamboo, with mature sizes ranging from 10cm to over 36m (120ft) with a diameter of up to 30cm. It is essential that if you plan to grow bamboo that you seek advice on which type of bamboo is best suited to you as bamboo can grow and spread irratically, overrunning your garden. For more advice on bamboo offsetting visit the Environmental Bamboo Foundation.

The Zero Emission House

Today will see the official launch at Offsite 2007 Exhibition, in Watford, of the first home to meet the UK government environmental standard, level six of the Code of Sustainable Homes, which all new houses must meet by 2016. The design by King Span Off-Site is known as the Lighthouse design and incorporates many renewable technologies, including solar panels and a biomass boiler. The two and a half storey, 93.3m2 home comprises of two bedrooms, it has unrivalled efficiency in construction method, energy use, CO2 emissions and carbon footprint, this high performance, sustainable home pushes the boundaries of modern affordable house design.



1. Wind Catcher
2. Solar Array
3. High Level of Insulation
4. Biomass Boiler

The issue of sustainable housing is on the public agenda with Gordon Brown having annouced plans to build Eco-Villages, and in his budget in March stating carbon neutral homes would be exempt from stamp duty. The Offsite 2007 Exhibition highlights the best in british architectual innovation with houses varying from code three to six. The development in sustainable housing is sure to have the largest impact on out carbon emissions with a large proportion of UK emissions coming from the construction industry.

Micro Compact Home

I first became aware of the m-ch (micro compact home) from a glossy design magazine I was reading at a book store in Hong Kong in February. Since then I have been enfatuated with the 8' x 8' aluminium box designed by Richard Horden. Whilst the stylish cube is smaller than my bathroom, it packs alot in, and not only that in a stylish vibrant and ergonomic way. There are functioning spaces for, sleeping, working, cooking and hygiene.

The m-ch was first launched in Munich in November 2005 with the development of a case study village sponsored by O2 Germany, which is currently occupied by students of TU Munich. The m-ch made its UK debut at the Grand Designs Live 2006 exhibition, London Docklands. Since its launch it has gradually grown in popularity and the media attention has ballooned, including an article and video tour on the BBC News website by Rajesh Mirchandani, however the home generated mainly negative reader comments mainly through the proposed use as a solution to the housing shortage, and the signifigant price tag which the article states is £50k, however m-ch units can be purchased from £16,895 (€25k) to £22,975 (€34k). However the installation and delivery fee may take this to £50k.

But why is the micro compact home special? It is in itself a unique iconic housing design which symbolises the need for reduction in our lives, the cube makes use of a highly recyclable material, and recycled m-ch units can be made into new units. The aluminium can be recycled with minimal wastage (approximately 0.3%) using 11% of the energy used in production from raw materials. In addition, the first eco balance report was completed in 2005 at the Technical University in Munich and is a detailed full life cycle analysis of the materials used in the construction, through to the final recycling and disposal. The report includes details of the energy balance and the energy required to manufacture and deliver materials to the factory and to the site. A 'low.e-home' version is available with potentially zero CO2 emissions. This is powered by pv solar cells and a small vertical axis wind generator mounted on the roof and mast.

In a cold winter month the m-ch should use only 348kWhrs and in the summer, using air conditioning, approximately 123 kWhrs. It is possible to be highly energy efficient in the use of an m-ch. Since it has a small air volume, it heats and cools very quickly.

You can view a m-ch at the O2 student village, Technical University Munich and at the Festival of Xtreme Building in Birmingham from the 9th June.

Belfast City Council Waste Fair 2007

This week saw waste on public view at the Belfast City Council Waste Fair 2007. The prominent centerpiece of the event taken up with a 10ft spherical statue of waste electric appliances which have been created into a living piece of art. A monitor placed in the centre of the sphere relays how the statue came about, having been created from waste disposed at one recycling centre in the city.

Around the centre piece was an array of tents each containing displays or interactive demonstrations. The first tent I stumbled on contained motion sensitive video walls and floors which allowed visitors to eliminate the waste from taking over Belfast. Whilst being an interactive and fun element, this offered a more serious underlying message that there is a need in the city to decrease the amount of waste being sent to landfill, and this message continued throughout the exhibition.

As I had skipped on breakfast to catch the train to the event at 10:40, the hunger I was feeling was not helped by the McGees award winning organic beef barbecue, which offered sensual aromas of tasty beef burgers and sausages from County Tyrone. I resisted the temptation as I was on a very tight schedule and made a direct route to the next exhibition tent.

There I stumbled upon a locally produced product, from local recycled materials by The Waste Recycle Company, their award winning product is based on a simple idea of waste segregation. Brian Fairbairn, explained that since production of the product began 18 months ago, the business has mushroomed beyond comprehension. With commercial orders from Dubai to Africa, but closer to home in the United Kingdom they are supplying government, schools, businesses and direct to consumers. One client is the Northern Ireland government offices at Stormont, who have seen recycling rates increase four-fold since implementation of the system. We will be profiling this company in more detail the coming weeks.

After a trawl through the charity shop displays, I came across products cunningly displayed amongst mock rooms (including a bathroom costing £150). Available to buy in shops and online. This list was compiled by the Belfast City Council official who created the display. The products on show ranged from a travel journal made from used Australian car plates (£24.95), to Recycled Juice Carton Clipboards (£7.99 up). Over the next few weeks I will be adding all the products in an article, as there are some really useful and potentially eco-friendly gift ideas amongst them.

Following on from my attempts to create my compost heap, I came across a solution by The Worm Works. Easy to use, with no smell, no mess, and no chances of any worms escaping, potentially you could have this in your kitchen, so no trips to the bottom of the garden. With the compact composter assembled before me in seconds all you have to do is add your biodegradable household waste (kindly provided by the food stalls at the exhibition) and some worms. The composter is in layers so larger families can simply add more trays, and the base also collects fluid which can be tapped off as a liquid fertiliser. The product is manufactured from recycled plastic in the USA, where it is also the best selling system of its kind.

Thursday night saw the Second Chance Fashion Show, hosted at Café Vaudeville, local faces strutting their stuff included Donna Traynor, Jo Scott and Sarah Travers (BBC), Jeannie Johnston, Siobhan McGarry and Pamela Ballentine (UTV), Stephen Clements from Cool FM and Emma-Louise Johnston (GMTV). Compering for the evening was Julian Simmons.

“You`d be really surprised at what people give away and we made some real finds when we were putting together outfits for the fashion show. What`s even better is that you can save yourself a fortune but still look fashionable and glamorous – and you`ll have everyone wondering where you got that little vintage top from.”

Tracey Hall, Style Academy

With so many participants at the events it was hard to just single out a few, so here is a list of some more of the attendees;

Blooming Bottoms - Reusable nappies and environmentally friendly baby products
Pink Unicorns - Handcrafted knitting using recycled yarn
Suzie Scott Recycled Boutique - Recycled Boutique selling clocks, wall hangings, cheeseboards and small dishes made from recycled glass bottles
Timber Recycling Eco Enterprises (TREE) - Wood turned items including bowls, goblets, candlesticks and holders. Wood carved items such as Celtic goblets, plaques and fireplace corbels.
Camphill Community - Breads, cakes, buns and pottery.
LifeStyle Green - Furniture made from Wych-elm wood.
Raspberry Berry - Vintage clothing stall.
Cancer Research - Second-hand clothing.
HOBO Designs - Handbags, accessories, T-shirts made from recycled fabrics.Camphill Community - Breads, cakes, buns and pottery.
LifeStyle Green - Furniture made from Wych-elm wood.
Raspberry Berry - Vintage clothing stall.
Cancer Research - Second-hand clothing.
HOBO Designs - Handbags, accessories, T-shirts made from recycled fabrics.
Save the Children - Second-hand books and bags.

White Van Man Turns Green with Modec

Modec launched their electric powered van to the public in March, since then they have notched up over 130 sales. Available in three variations from bare chassis cabs (£25,000), to flat bed and tipper variants (around £27,000) to fully built up 12m³ box vans (£30,000). Demand has been so high that you will need to wait in excess of eight weeks to get your hands on one.

The vans have up to a 100 mile range, which easily exceeds the 62 miles travelled by the average van in the UK, only this vehicle emits zero emissions (other than that from electricity generation). This means that the Modec is exempt from road tax, the congestion charge, and an operators license fee, plus you can also charge your Modec for free at many of the recharge stations in London. Not only is the Modec environmentally friendly during its life it is also made from 90% materials which in the end can be easily recycled.

The operating cost of the van is only about three pence per mile (excluding the battery charge), and can carry two tonnes of payload at speeds of up to 50 miles an hour.

The business world has been impressed by the potential of the vehicles with Tesco ordering 15 Modec for their home delivery services at Tesco’s new environmental store in Shrewsbury and at various locations in London. With other supermarket chains in talks with Modec keen to follow Tesco's lead, we could certainly be seeing more of these vehicles on the roads in the next few years.

Watch David Cameron's views on the Modec after a visit to the Modec factory in Coventry.

You can see this and many other eco-friendly vehicles at the June 5th Eco-Rally, when environmentally friendly vehicles will battle it out in a 52 mile drive from Brighton to London. The event will also offer accompanying free displays at the Science Museum and Trafalgar Square. You can track the eco-rally online at the Revolve website or on the big screens in Trafalgar Square.

Renewables: Hydro Power

Hydro power systems use running water turning a turbine to produce electricity. A micro hydro plant is one that generates less than 100kW. Improvements in small turbine and generator technology mean that micro hydro schemes are an attractive means of producing electricity. Useful power may be produced from even a small stream.

Hydro power requires the source to be relatively close to where the power will be used, or to a suitable grid connection. Hydro systems can be connected to the main electricity grid or as a part of a stand-alone (off-grid) power system. In a grid-connected system, any electricity generated but not used can be sold to electricity companies.

In an off-grid hydro system, electricity can be supplied directly to the devices powered or through a battery bank and inverter set up. A back-up power system may be needed to compensate for seasonal variations in water flow.

The capital cost is high but the prospect of not having electricity bills or making money by selling energy back to a power supplier may tempt you!

Hydro power systems convert potential energy stored in water held at height to kinetic energy (or the energy used in movement) to turn a turbine to produce electricity.

Energy available in a body of water depends on the water's flow rate and the height (or head) that the water falls. These are divided into low head, medium head and high head, where the height drop is greater. The scheme's actual output will depend on how efficiently it converts the power of the water into electrical power (maximum efficiencies of over 90% are possible but for small systems 60 - 80% is more realistic).

If you are interested in installing hydro , typical installation cost for a small scale system is dependant on the head height however £4,000 per kW for low, £2,000 per kW for medium are realistic with a fixed cost of about £10,000, however grants are available from the low carbon buildings programme (funded by the Department of Trade and Industry, DTI). To be eligible for a grant you will need to use a certified installer and products. The low carbon buildings programme offers a maximum of £2,500 or 30% of the relevant eligible costs, whichever is the lower for Hydro systems.

M&S Begins Distribution of Bags For Life

After it was announced last month that Marks & Spencer to Charge for Plastic Bags they have implemented the inital stages of the program with distribution of free "Bags for Life" in their stores in Northern Ireland. The above is one of the three designs by the illustrator David Downton. For more information visit "Plan A".

Renewables: Wind Turbines for Home Installation

With the potential of UK wind energy being the greatest in Europe, the Energy Saving Trust suggests that this figure is 40%, the increase in installed wind turbines has greatly increased in recent years. It is expected that installed wind energy potential will double every three years, and domestic wind energy is becoming increasingly more affordable. But at the moment wind power accounts for a fraction of our electricity needs.

If you do not wish to install a wind turbine you could support wind energy through your current electricity supplier some of which offer for free green energy tariffs.

The majority of wind turbines generate direct current, for systems on the grid this can easily be installed to the current electricity supply with an inverter and controller. For off-grid systems these also require a battery. Excess energy to requirements can be sold to your local electricity company, however rates vary (from 1p/kWh - 6p/kWh) and are normally dependant on time.

There are two types of wind turbines:

• Mast mounted - which are free standing and located near the building(s) that will be using the electricity.
• Roof mounted - which can be installed on house roofs and other buildings.

Wind energy is a renewable source of clean energy, a 2.5Kw system can save 1-2 tonnes of C02 and £150 - £250 per year. A 6kW system can save 2.5 - 5 tonnes C02 and £250 - £450 per year. Larger systems in the region of 2.5kW to 6kW would cost between £11,000 - £25,000 installed. These costs are inclusive of the turbine, mast, inverters, battery storage (if required) and installation; however it's important to remember that costs always vary depending on location and the size and type of system.

Turbines can have a life of up to 20 years but require service checks every few years to ensure they work efficiently. For battery storage systems, typical battery life is around 6-10 years, depending on the type, so batteries may have to be replaced at some point in the system's life.

Individual turbines vary in size and power output from a few hundred watts to two or three megawatts (as a guide, a typical domestic system would be 1 - 6 kilowatts). Uses range from very small turbines supplying energy for battery charging systems (e.g. on boats or in homes), to turbines on wind farms supplying electricity to the grid.

You should consider the following issues if you're thinking about small scale wind. An accredited installer will be able to provide more detailed advice.

• Wind speed increases with height so it's best to have the turbine high on a mast or tower.
• Generally speaking the ideal site is a smooth top hill with a flat, clear exposure, free from excessive turbulence and obstructions such as large trees, houses or other buildings.
• Small scale wind power is particularly suitable for remote off grid locations where conventional methods of supply are expensive or impractical.

Small-scale building-integrated wind turbines suitable for urban locations are also available to install in homes and other buildings.

Please note that the electricity generated at any one time by a wind turbine is highly dependent on the speed and direction of the wind. The windspeed itself is dependent on a number of factors, such as location within the UK, height of the turbine above ground level and nearby obstructions. Ideally, you should undertake a professional assessment of the local windspeed for a full year at the exact location where you plan to install a turbine before proceeding. In practice, this may be difficult, expensive and time consuming to undertake. Therefore we recommend that, if you are considering a domestic building mounted installation and electricity generation is your main motivation, then you only consider a wind turbine under the following circumstances:

• The local annual average windspeed is 6 m/s or more. An approximate figure for your location can be checked on the DTI website
• There are no significant nearby obstacles such as buildings, trees or hills that are likely to reduce the windspeed or increase turbulence

If you are in any doubt, please consult a suitably qualified professional.
Planning issues such as visual impact, noise and conservation issues also have to be considered. System installation normally requires permission from the local authority, so it's important to always check with your local authority about planning issues before you have a system installed.

If you are interested in installing a wind turbine, typical installation cost for a domestic system is £2,000 - £4,000 per kW, however grants are available from the low carbon buildings programme (funded by the Department of Trade and Industry, DTI). To be eligible for a grant you will need to use a certified installer and products. The low carbon buildings programme offers a maximum of £2 500 or 50% of the relevant eligible costs, whichever is the lower for solar PV systems.

Related Links

Low Carbon Buildings Programme
Department of Trade and Industry
Certified Installers
Certified Products

Renewables: Solar Water Heating Systems

Solar water heating systems use heat from the sun to work alongside your conventional water heater. The technology is well developed with a large choice of equipment to suit many applications. Last year the UK's leading DIY retailer, B&Q began selling solar water heating systems at their stores and online.

By installing solar water heating systems to your home you will help to reduce your energy consumption for heating water, some systems can currently provide up to 70% of your hot water needs, almost 100% all during summer months. This not only will save you money but reduce our dependency on fossil fuels which are conventially used to provide the energy in our homes to heat water. A basic solar water heating system will reduce your CO2 emissions by about 400kg per annum. Solar hot water systems generally come with a 10-year warranty and require very little maintenance. A yearly check by the householder and a more detailed check by a professional installer every 3-5 years should be sufficient.

For domestic hot water there are three main components;

• Solar panels or collectors - are fitted to your roof. They collect heat from the sun's radiation.
• There are 2 main types of collector:
  Flat plate systems - which are comprised of an absorber plate with a transparent cover to collect the sun's heat, or
  Evacuated tube systems - which are comprised of a row of glass tubes that each contain an absorber plate feeding into a mainfold which transports the heated fluid.
• A heat transfer system - uses the collected heat to heat water
• Hot water cylinder - stores the hot water that is heated during the day and supplies it for use later.

There are many applications that a solar water heating system can be used for, including within the home, businesses and swimming pools. You will need 3-4 square metres of southeast to southwest facing roof receiving direct sunlight for the main part of the day for a domestic system. You'll also need space to locate an additional water cylinder if required.

Choosing a system suitable to your needs requires consideration of a range of factors, including the area of south facing roof, the existing water heating system (e.g. some combi boilers aren't suitable) and your budget. A competent accredited installer will be able to assess your situation and discuss with you the best configuration to meet your needs.

If you are interested in installing a solar hot water system, typical installation cost for a domestic system is £3,000 - £4,500. Evacuated tube systems tend to be more expensive, however grants are available from the low carbon buildings programme (funded by the Department of Trade and Industry, DTI). To be eligible for a grant you will need to use a certified installer and products. The low carbon buildings programme offers a maximum of £400 or 30% of the relevant eligible costs, whichever is the lower for solar thermal hot water systems.

Related Links

Low Carbon Buildings Programme
Department of Trade and Industry
Certified Installers
Certified Products

Renewables: Solar PV Systems

Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems use energy from the sun, converted to electricity to use in your household. The technology is well developed with a large choice of equipment. Last year the UK's leading DIY retailer, B&Q began selling solar PV systems at their stores and online.

Photovoltaic systems use cells to convert sunlight into electricity. The PV cell consists of one or two layers of a semi conducting material, usually silicon. When light shines on the cell it creates an electric field across the layers causing electricity to flow. The greater the intensity of the light, the greater the flow of electricity. PV requires only daylight, not direct sunlight to generate electricity and so can still generate some power on a cloudy day.PV cells are referred to in terms of the amount of energy they generate in full sunlight, know as kilowatt peak or kWp.

PV arrays now come in a variety of shapes and colours, ranging from grey 'solar tiles' that look like roof tiles to panels and transparent cells that you can use on conservatories and glass to provide shading as well as generating electricity. Solar panels are not light and the roof must be strong enough to take their weight, especially if the panel is placed on top of existing tiles.

Some local authorities require planning permission to allow you to fit a PV system, especially in conservation areas or on listed buildings. Always check with your local authority about planning issues before you have a system installed. Obtaining retrospective planning permission can be difficult and costly.

By installing a solar PV system to your home you will help to reduce your energy consumption through electricity use, some systems can currently provide up to 100% of your electricity needs, however these systems are expensive. This not only will save you money but reduce our dependency on fossil fuels which are conventially used to provide the energy in our homes. Each kWp will reduce your CO2 emissions by about 325kg per annum, and over 8 tonnes over the lifetime of a system per kWp. Solar PV systems require very little maintenance. A yearly check by the householder to ensure panels are clean and a more detailed check by a professional installer every 3-5 years should be sufficient.
Choosing a system suitable to your needs requires consideration of a range of factors, including the area of south facing roof, type of system and your budget. A competent accredited installer will be able to assess your situation and discuss with you the best configuration to meet your needs. If you are replacing a roof or on a new build you could consider installing solar PV roof tiles which will offset the cost of conventional roof tiles.

If you are interested in installing a solar PV system, typical installation cost for a domestic system is £4,000 - £9,000 per kWp, however grants are available from the low carbon buildings programme (funded by the Department of Trade and Industry, DTI). To be eligible for a grant you will need to use a certified installer and products. The low carbon buildings programme offers a maximum of £2 500 or 50% of the relevant eligible costs, whichever is the lower for solar PV systems.

"I am a strong believer in green energy and want to promote it. I have decided to put my money where my mouth is and demonstrate my real concern for our environmental situation"
Peter Hain, Member of Parliment, Labour

Related Links

Low Carbon Buildings Programme
Department of Trade and Industry
Certified Installers
Certified Products

What's in Season from Your Local Farmer in June?

Vegetables
Beetroot
Broad Beans
Broccoli
Celery
Cucumber
Peas
Savoy
Scallions
Tomatoes
Turnip

In Season All Year
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Lettuce
Mushrooms
Pammphrey
Potatoes
Red Cabbage
Soup Veg
Swedes

Fruit
Bramley Apples
Gooseberries
Rhubarb
Strawberries

Meat
Beef
Chicken
Lamb
Pork

Other
Eggs
Milk
Oats
Other Grains

Please note the above selection of foods is based on what is in season in the United Kingdom.