The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) recently announced the rates it will be paying  renewable energy generators from April 1st. The “Feed-in Tariff” is something Good Energy has been campaigning on for a long time so we are delighted about the news, and believe it will stimulate a vital growing industry and play a key role in reducing the UK’s carbon emissions.

Good Energy already supports over 1000 energy entrepreneurs. Among them is Nicola Baird, who has both solar-thermal and solar pv panels on her North London house. Read what she has to say about becoming a microgenerator ...

Neighbours enjoy an energy buzz

By Nicola Baird

“Can I have  a word about solar?” It’s Pearl, a neighbour, at the door. Since our solar panels  -  we have had thermal tubes on the south side and PV on the south-east - went on to the roof of our corner-shaped Victorian terrace back in 2008 I’ve got to know quite a few neighbours’ energy aspirations. Many come by because they are in a state of shock over this winter’s power bills, and are hoping that going solar is a solution.  And for some it may be, especially the families that love gadgets as solar panels are the ultimate eco-chic carbon cutters.

But the appeal for my partner Pete and I to turn our home into a mini power station and eventually sell back electricity to our provider, Good Energy, was much simpler.

1. We saw that solar technology was easy to run (in fact it seems to be practically maintenance free).
2. It allows us to enjoy free hot water in from April to October (last year’s actual gas used over the summer cost a fabulous £12).
3. And twice a year, on 1 April and 1 October, we get at least double-figure credits for the solar PV we export back to the grid.

First choice
Prioritising energy efficiency has become a part of our household economy partly because both Pete and I work as journalists/writers from home.  We’ve only been in this house for five years but during that time we’ve made sure curtains are double or triple lined, draught excluders line the external doors, all our windows are double-glazed, all radiators have individual heating controls and we expect to wear more clothes in the winter.  We insulated the loft, turned off the radiator in the hall and taught ourselves to shut doors. If it gets too cold we cuddle up under blankets or the dog…

Going solar meant we had to save up. We opted for solar hot water first which cost us £2,000 to install (because we got a 50 per cent grant which paid for the other half of the bill). The theory is that as the price of energy goes up, then the time it will take to recoup this cost shrinks. But actually generating your own hot water soon teaches you to be more aware of energy use – you become your own OWL energy monitor – and so your household bills, and carbon footprint, fall simultaneously.

Love in a cold climate
Despite an early dating whirl for Pete and me which involved a serious cold war (he put the thermostat up, I put it down) our home energy use still isn’t parsimonious – I cook too much on the electric hob/oven and we have two PCs working long days – but what we’ve noticed is that focusing on renewable energy generation has taught everyone in the family to use all our energy with renewed respect.  Secondary school pupil Lola likes being part of the solar solution. While Nell, 8, claims, “I like the hot water best because it’s awesome that the heat comes from the sun and I can have a bath in it.” Usually we share the water – and then it is used again to flush the loo.

Installing solar PV was much pricier (we paid £4,000 and also had to apply for a £4,000 grant and complete some complex paperwork) but it’s good to know that when it’s daylight our home is earning us cash. At the moment we get  15p per kWh from Good Energy (so between July-October 2009 we generated 335.20kWh and were paid £50.28).

Unlike my neighbour Pearl I knew solar PV worked in the winter, even so I didn’t realise just how much electricity can be generated from low, bright winter sun as I showed her the meter in the cellar. Although last Saturday we woke to a crunchy frost and intense cold, our solar PV was collecting more than 500w by 10.30am. “Well what does that mean?” she said looking confused. Nell was quick to answer and did so by picking up a 100w light bulb saying, “It’s enough energy to power five of these for ages and ages.”

A bit simplistic perhaps, but it certainly opened another neighbour’s eyes to the potential of spending on installing a renewables system rather than just letting your home gobble up energy. I’ll let you know what she decides to do…

Interested in generating your own energy? 

This blog entry is from Nicola Baird, co-author of Save Cash & Save the Planet (Collins, 2005) who is married to Pete May – the writer of the hilarious eco-romantic comedy, There’s a Hippo in My Cistern (Collins, 2007). Nicola’s next book, Homemade Kids; thrifty, creative  and eco-friendly ways to raise children, is due out in July 2010, publisher Vermilion.  Also see http://aroundbritainnoplane.blogspot.com and http://homemadekids.wordpress.com