FACTS AND FIGURES

Who: Clare and Paul Sheridan

Where: Gloucestershire

What: Solar PV

Size: 1.8 kW

Makes: 1,600 kWh per year

Average equivalent saving: 0.8 tonnes of CO2 per year

Earns: £240 per year

THE SHERIDANS’ STORY

Clare and Paul installed their solar PV array in March 2004, but were already converts to solar power, having installed their solar thermal panels in 1999. Their well insulated, modern home uses energy efficiently, helping Clare and Paul to minimise their carbon emissions. They are keen recyclers and composters, and like to walk or cycle rather than use their car but as that runs on 100% biodiesel, it helps to cut their carbon emissions too.

Paul said on his newest installation, “Clare and I have been interested in renewable energy for many years and installing our solar panels helped to re-connect us to the energy we use. We signed up with Good Energy about 5 years ago because they supply 100% renewable electricity, but by far the majority of electricity we use is generated by our solar panels. The government grant helped by covering 50% of the costs and after investigating various energy companies’ buy back schemes, we chose Good Energy’s Home Generation as the best deal for us.”