Energy
Conventional energy supplies are becoming increasingly expensive. Ways to combat this is to look at saving energy and getting grants for installing equipment to generate your own power in the future
Energy
Reducing energy loss is the best way to start and www.est.org.uk has ideas for saving energy, money and the environment. It also has information on the renewable energy methods below and what grants are available. You can have your home audited for energy efficiency for free, call the Energy Efficiency Advice Centre (0800 512 012).
You may also want to consider changing to a renewable energy supplier such as www.ecotricity.co.uk or www.good-energy.co.uk .
A new website www.whichgreen.org lists all the electricity companies which have green tarrifs and shows how much each has invested per customer in building new sources of renewable energy in 2004. There are ways to reduce energy bills and grants available (see www.est.org.uk) for installation.
Wind Power
See www.renewabledevices.com who make the world’s first silent building mountable wind turbine. On average a single turbine will save 1.4 tonnes of CO2 per year. Also offering a small wind turbine is www.windsave.com
Solar Power
If your home has a south facing roof it might be suitable for installing solar panels. See www.solarcentury.co.uk/uk
Or you could use photovoltaics (PV) which convert daylight into energy. See www.pv-uk.org.uk
Combined heat and power
Powergen makes the WhisperGen Micro Combined heat and power system (www.powergen.com)
The Combined Heat and Power Association promotes wider use of combined heat and power and offers a directory of C.H.P providers (www.chpa.co.uk)
Ground Source Heat Pump and Wood Pellet Boilers
With a ground source heat pump, heat is pumped from the ground into the house. It can also work in reverse in the summer when hot air in the house can be pumped in to the ground cooling the house.
One supplier used in the Tree House in Clapham is Ice Energy Heat Pumps on 01865 882202 or www.iceenergy.co.uk.
Wood is a renewable resource and is carbon neutral. For information on wood pellet boilers go to www.est.org.uk
Light bulbs
www.energysavers-direct.com offers a range of energy saver bulbs including halogen bulbs subsidised under the UK's Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC2) to promote energy saving in UK homes and businesses. With savings of up to 75% off normal retail prices and energy savings of up to 80%. The site claims these top quality, long-life bulbs typically pay for themselves in just a few months.
The Energy Saving Trust states that switching from just one traditional incandescent lightbulb to one compact fluorescent lamp (C.F.L) can reduce your electricity bill by up to £7 a year. www.est.org.uk