solar water heating uk
Microgeneration is likely to be an important step towards the Millennium Goal of ensuring environmental sustainability by the year 2015. This is an ambitious, if not idealistic, target which has been well-received by most – less so as an individual burden, and more of a sub-national one. “Let the government do something about it,” is the response of many. Although many argue the benefits of this concept, there are only a few that have actually taken a proactive approach as individuals or private businesses.
While many governments have taken steps to reduce their state’s carbon footprint on our exceedingly fragile earth, Great Britain has often been criticised for not doing as much as other countries to reduce carbon emissions. So how can we, as individuals, be expected to help ensure environmental sustainability?
To counter these accusations of underachievement, the government has, over the past two years, set up a Microgeneration Strategy that aims to provide Zero- and Low- Carbon solutions for businesses, communities, and domestic dwellings. Its targets include all new homes being zero-carbon by 2016, while all new non-domestic buildings should be zero-carbon by 2019. A few years past the Millennium target of 2015, but still a very good step forward.
So what form will these microgenerators take, and how will this be applied? Mainly through small energy generators, such as windmills and solar panels. The idea is that all future buildings be equipped with these small solar and wind generators. The benefits of this approach is that it will enable future homes and businesses to produce and supply their own energy on a local scale, making them self sufficient.
What make microgenerators more beneficial on a smaller-scale is that they engender a self-sufficiency among domestic dwellings (particularly homes with no access to the main gas network), communities, and businesses, which decreases their dependence on the government for energy management. Self-sufficient energy management and helping create a greener world for us all seems like a win-win situation.
Like any new method, Microgeneration does have its hurdles that need to be assessed and overtaken. For one, it is not suitable for all types of homes. It is, for example, not readily available for local shops, nor is it easy to find many who are specialized in installing these microgenerators. Affordability is also a problem for many, reaffirming the old argument that ecological sustainability is only attainable by those who can afford it.
So is microgeneration the best way to ensure environmental sustainability? Policy makers, such as UK Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks think so. As long as the government makes more information readily available about the benefits and disadvantages of microgeneration, and provides the proper financial schemes and support, then most people should have no problem embracing this technology. However, until technology improves and its prices come down significantly, none of this obviates the need for other crucial targets such as reducing energy wastages and improving our domestic recycling.
Tal Potishman, editor of Heating Central, writes articles on domestic heating, plumbers, Aldwych boiler, underfloor heating and solar thermal. He specializes in helping save money by advising on efficient heating.
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