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Eoltec: UK dealer: BJRE Ltd 01856 879086 Iskra: 0115 8413283 Proven: 01560 485 570 Scoraig: 0771315 7600
The higher the rating the more ethical the brand. This whole scorecard was last updated from our database on 14 October 2009 but some individual company ratings may have changed since then. Up to the minute information can be seen by subscribers using Ethiscore. Learn more about our ratings.
If the number of companies offering sustainable home energy systems is anything to go by, ethical consumers have never had it so good. The UK renewables market is now worth a meter worrying £650m(10) and companies are lining up to get their piece of the pie. This report will focus on leading UK manufacturers of wind products and a selection of smaller companies with strong ethical values and widely available products.
From vane to vogue On a domestic level, small scale turbines are being hailed the latest homeowner’s fashion accessory for those who want to cut their fuel bills while saving the planet according to a recent meeting of the Building Research Establishment (BRE).(9) Although still controversial It is predicted that, thanks to improving designs and more affordable prices – available for under £1000, urban wind turbines will begin to decorate the roof tops of UK town’s and cities. Some devices, best fixed to south facing structures, can be joined to the mains supply by as little as a 13 amp plug.(13) The British Wind Energy Association provide in-depth information on the subject on their website www.bwea.com. For the most part small scale turbines are about making a contribution. To be completely self-sufficient they are better used part of a hybrid system with solar. (See the ethiscore report on solar power for the home.) It is more feasible, providing you can part with several thousand pounds and have the right space to put it, to opt for a large turbine. It will not only cover domestic electricity needs but excess can be sold back to the national grid. Green electricity companies which offer ‘buy back’ for home generators are identified in the 'green electricity' report.
Grants Help is at hand for householders wishing to reap the benefits of renewables. Clear Skies, funded by DTI, provides grants between £400 - £5000 for domestic ventures, while not-for-profit organisations can receive up to £50,000 for wind turbines, solar thermal, small scale hydro turbines, ground source heat pumps and wood fuelled boiler systems. The Energy Saving Trust also offers information on a range of grants
References 1 www.cat.org.uk 2 www.alternativetechnology.org.uk 3 www.bp.com 4 www.bbcnews.co.uk 30/07/2003 5 www.tal.telegraph.co.uk 15/04/2005 6 www.bbc.co.uk 5/5/05 7 www.marlec.co.uk 8 www.guardian.co.uk 9 www.societyguardian.co.uk 10 www.renewablesnorthwest.co.uk 11 www.solarcentury.co.uk 12 Guardian 12/05/05 13 www.windsave.com
Downloadable pdf of this report coming soon.