Generate your own electricity

3.50.39pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 25th Oct 2005

Councillor John Cole ( Lib Dem Baildon )has called for the Council to support two private members bills on microgeneration and sustainable generation.

They are also asking local MPs to make sure that they turn up in parliament to vote for these bills on 11th November.

Cllr Cole said,

" Microgeneration is the production of power on a very small scale. Unlike large power stations, micropower appliances are situated very close to where the power is used so it is much more efficient than big plants sending power for hundreds of miles.

There are many examples of microgeneration like wind power and solar panels.

Solar panels and small wind turbines can be installed on the roof of a house and used to reduce that household's need for electricity generated by large power stations. This not only cuts the emission of green house gases like CO2 but is also cuts your electricity bill and can act as a back-up if the mains supply fails.

Solar water heating using roof mounted panels can provide 50% of your hot water needs.

If householders install micro-units in their homes this will be a great way to tackle important issues like climate change.

We also want the utility companies to be made to buy back any surplus energy generated by micro-units."