“People used to be attracted to living off-grid for largely environmental reasons, although that is now changing as energy prices rise”

Of course it helps to live in Arizona with good wind and plenty of sun but it is an interesting read and the photographs are definitely worth a look.

The report also quotes Nick Rosen author of the book “How to Live Off-Grid.”

“Because of technology advancing … and because of high house and energy prices … there are a lot more people moving off grid.”

Well OK, but in my mind, I don’t see the imperative to move completely off grid, but as Nick says, solar, wind and other technologies are advancing to make home generation a more attractive option, reducing energy costs and potentially feeding back to the grid. All we need now is feed in tariffs in the UK to keep things move forward and bring balance to the grid …… OK so now I sound like Yoda, so I’m going to stop.

Technorati Tags: solar-power, wind-power, micro-generation

There is an interesting debate going on presently in The Shetland News letters pages where questions have been raised about the reality of Sustainable Shetland’s proposed alternatives. Here is that organisation’s reply. Good stuff!

Micro generation is increasingly seen as a potential contribution to the solution, which can only be a good thing

Technorati Tags: Wind-power, micro generation

Given that the whole housing market appears to be going south rapidly though , I am not sure that Barratts are going to find the apartments in the development easy to shift. It would interesting to see if the environmental features make it them more or less attractive to pontential buyers. What do you think?

Read more here
Technorati Tags: micro-generation ]]> http://www.micro-generator.com/2008/05/19/barratt-building-with-micro-generation-built-in/feed/ http://www.micro-generator.com/2008/04/08/more-calls-for-micro-generation-support/ http://www.micro-generator.com/2008/04/08/more-calls-for-micro-generation-support/#comments Tue, 08 Apr 2008 18:06:53 +0000 ashleys http://www.micro-generator.com/2008/04/08/more-calls-for-micro-generation-support/ It is beginning to sound like a broken record, does anyone feel like the government is doing the right things to support micro-generation? The British Wind Energy Association has criticized the UK government’s decision to extend the Low Carbon Buildings Program as merely a means to create the illusion that the government is supporting UK micro-generation and local industry.

“We have gained expertise in designing and building large-scale, energy-intensive facilities by building efficient data centres. We want to apply the same creativity and innovation to the challenge of generating renewable electricity at a globally significant scale.”

First seen on Guardian Unlimited

Good question and it something I have been planning to write about for a while. In the meantime The Guardian has put together a useful piece entitled Blowing in the wind on this subject. The article also provides some useful links.

“grab the attention of the public and make them think about the possibilities of micro-generation of power”

They intend to do this, in partnership with the Energy Saving Trust, by erecting a giant billboard outside Heathrow airport. The billboard uses windpower to power the lighting on the poster.

Seen on Retail Week

Apparently the council have raised concerns about the potential for noise issues with the wind turbine. Mr. Collins has even gone as far as submitted an engineer’s report which describes the device as “phenomenally quiet”, paid for a site visit to try to speed up a decision, and can’t now understand why  permission has not been granted.

The council states that because this is the first application of its kind they do have to make sure they get this right and that;

“We are pleased to receive, and would positively encourage, such sustainable energy initiatives and are confident that we will make a decision on this application in the very
near future.”

This is all well and good but haven’t council planning offices thought about the concept of best practice? Why is it that every council has to spend months evaluating all the issues surrounding applications like this when they receive their first application? The impact on appearance, surrounding residential amenities and likely noise levels etc. can surely be done at a national level and referred to by local offices.

More details on the Leedstoday site ]]> http://www.micro-generator.com/2006/08/24/plight-of-a-leeds-man-demonstrates-planning-problems/feed/ http://www.micro-generator.com/2006/08/20/a-true-solar-wind-approach/ http://www.micro-generator.com/2006/08/20/a-true-solar-wind-approach/#comments Sun, 20 Aug 2006 12:04:37 +0000 ashleys http://www.micro-generator.com/2006/08/20/a-true-solar-wind-approach/ Now here is a project that will truly get solar wind working. A new project has begun in the Australian outback to build a huge tower that will capture the sun’s energy in a far more efficient way than conventional solar cells or windmills.

Now we normally separate solar and wind energy into two different things, however the reality is that wind is a result, if only an end result, of the power of the sun.  This new project is trying to build a solar tower that will link the solar and wind energy directly. The tower is huge, funnel shaped and made of clear plastic. As the sun heats the air inside the tunnel causing it to rise, the funnel shape causing the air to move faster and faster the narrower the funnel gets. The electricity is then generated by wind turbines housed in the top of the funnel.

When constructed sometime after 2006, the 3,280 foot Solar Tower will generate 200 megawatts. At a typical home consumption of one kilowatt, this will power 200,000 homes and reduce the annual production of greenhouse gases by nearly a megaton.

Read more at the dailyreckoning.co.uk