Installing microgeneration in a home gives households a degree of energy independence as well as helping them cut their bills and should be encouraged, claimed a photovoltaics supplier.Energy costs are soaring, making solar panels a good, if still expensive investment, said Solarcentury executive chairman Jeremy Legget.The price of installing the...

Domestic energy assessorsmaking energy efficiency suggestions to clients could point to the energy savings made Coventry's climate change councillor.Councillor Nigel Lee embarked on a project to make his home greener and installed a range of devices, including one Coventry's largest solar panel arrays.As well as the photovoltaic panels,...

Water conservation and microgeneration devices are to be installed at a new development in Croydon.The Sumner Gardens development being built by contractor Osborne Homes Division, will meet high eco-standards and feature solar panels, wind turbines and rainwater harvesting.Deputy council leader Dudley Mead, visited the site of the 32 three, four-...

Twice as many microgenerationwind turbines will be installed this year as last year, according to a new report.The renewable trade association BWEA published a report last week which claimed the number of installation of systems generating less than 50kW of power would rise to 7,844 from 3,459 in 2007.According to...

A combined heat and power (CHP) plant run on gas from non-recyclable waste is to be installed at the University of East Anglia.Refgas, which specialises in waste disposal and gasification, recently launched a device to extract so-called syngas from waste which is then burned to power an electrical generator.The company,...

Direct energy assessors will get a chance to peek inside environmentally-friendly buildings usually closed to the public.Fifteen of Norfolk's energy efficient developments will be offering guided tours from September 11th to 14th as part of the Heritage Open days scheme.The tours, which have been organised by the Campaign to Protect...

A whisky distiller hopes to reduce its dependence on fuel suppliers and thereby cut its energy bills by using a by-product from its production process to generate heat and power.Drinks company Diageo, which makes Johnny Walker, J&B and Bells plans to build a bioenegy plant at its Cameronbridge distillery in...

One London tower block is to go green under a new initiative, it has emerged.A wind turbine is to be installed at an 18-storey tower block in Islington, which will power the building's lifts, lights, water pumps, CCTV and concierge area of Kestral House, according to 24dash.com.Islington council fronted most...

A variety of environmentally-friendly improvements have ensured that one school has a lower carbon footprint and costs less to run.St Martin's School in Worle, Weston-Super-Mare has undergone a series of refurbishments as a part of North Somerset council's Local Structure Plan.Thanks to a new installation of microgeneration features, St Martin's...

The UK's renewables targets have been deemed achievable by one expert.Eddie O'Connor, founder of Irish wind energy firm Airtricity, spoke to reporters this week about the possibility of supporting the UK with wind energy.According to Reuters, Mr O'Connor claimed that the government's recently established target of obtaining one-third of its...

Homeowners could be offered financial incentives to install solar panels and wind turbines under eco-friendly proposals being released this week.The consultation document for a renewable energy strategy includes suggestions such as low-cost loans and grants to encourage households to fit such microgeneration devices.An option to sell back surplus electricity to...