Renewable Energy Sources Information & Benefits | Sustainable Energy Sources

There are many renewable energy options available for your home, business or community. From fitting solar panels to generate your own electricity, heating your home with a woodburner or heat pump, purchasing a zero emissions electric car, to simply switching energy supplier – every step you take towards sustainable energy can make a big difference – to the planet and your pocket!

Electric Transport

Join the electric vehicle revolution now and it's not just the planet you'll be saving, you can save money too! The government is offering a cashback (tax free) scheme on the purchase of all brand new electric cars. There is a growing range of electric cars, motorbikes, scooters and bicycles on the market. The UK Government has announced provision of over £400 million to support measures designed to promote uptake of the next-generation of ultra-low emission vehicle technologies.
ELECTRIC TRANSPORT FOR YOU OR YOUR COMPANY
Wood Energy

Wood stoves are becoming an increasingly popular choice not just for heating and providing a focal point to a room and allowing you to gaze into the flames, but also for providing hot water for central heating and domestic hot water for the whole home. The boiler for a wood burning stove, although referred to as a back boiler, actually fits within the stove itself and so is unobtrusive. As well as traditional wood stoves, there are other stoves that are known as biomass boilers, where the fuel can be pellets of wood (like pet litter) or wood chips.
WOOD ENERGY FOR YOUR HOME OR COMMERCIAL PREMISES
Heat Pumps

This is a technology that everyone already has in their home! Heat pumps extract the warmth from solar energy which is stored in the ground, water courses and in the air. The systems use electricity to drive a pump which extracts the warmth and upgrades it into useful heat. Fridges are heat pumps and work by the same principal but in reverse, moving heat from inside the fridge to outside, thus cooling the inside. There are 3 main options; Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP), Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHP) and Water Source Heat Pumps (WSHP).
HEAT PUMPS FOR YOUR HOME OR COMMERCIAL PREMISES
Combined Head & Power

Combined Heat and Power (CHP) integrates the production of usable heat and power (electricity), in one single, highly efficient process. A micro-CHP boiler can be used at home in addition to heating the domestic hot water. Electricity that doesn't get used can then be sold back to the national grid. Connected to a district heating network, CHP can provide heat and power to multiple customers in urban areas, and other built environments with a high concentrated demand for heat.
CHP FOR YOUR HOME OR COMMERCIAL PREMISES

Join the growing community of home and commercial electricity and heat generators, and earn money for the surplus energy you produce.

Solar Energy

Ultimately, all of the energy here on Earth is derived from the Sun. However, when we talk about solar energy as a renewable source of energy, we are usually talking about one or two different types of technology. Solar photovoltaic panels, sometimes referred to as PV panels, which generate electricity from the sun, or solar hot water panels, also known as solar thermal, which heats water using energy from the sun.
SOLAR ENERGY FOR YOUR HOME, BUSINESS OR COMMUNITY
Wind Power

The UK has one of highest potential sources of wind energy in the world, certainly the highest in Europe, and it is currently not really being used to our advantage. Wind turbines are the machines used to extract power from the wind. Wind turbines come in a variety of sizes and shapes, but generally the larger the turbine, the better the return on investment. In a UK county such as Dorset which is almost 50% land, much of the land is protected and therefore currently prevents turbines being erected because of their impact on the landscape. However, they have become very popular in other European countries where they are used to generate electricity and income for local communities and are frequently seen, dotted around the countryside.
WIND ENERGY FOR YOUR HOME, BUSINESS OR COMMUNITY
Water Power

Water Power isn't for everyone, as not many people have a river running through their garden. However, most villages and towns are near running water so it could be used to power a community. Not all water courses are suitable however, as there needs to be enough water year-round and the water needs to pass through a certain gradient. Furthermore, it can be quite expensive to install a hydro (water power) system. Having said that, it is also very traditional, and there are still many disused mills around the country that are waiting for a Heritage Lottery Fund or similar to be reinvigorated!
WATER ENERGY FOR YOUR HOME, BUSINESS OR COMMUNITY

Whilst using and generating renewable energy is really important, we also need to be more energy efficient to reduce our energy consumption and to create a more sustainable planet.

Green Electricity

Switching to a green energy supplier is one of the simplest things that anyone can do to invest in renewable and sustainable energy. Currently there are only two 100% renewable electricity suppliers in the UK; Good Energy and Ecotricity. All their electricity is generated using natural power from the wind, water and sun or through sustainable biogeneration. That means no carbon, no nuclear and no fossil fuels.
SWITCH YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS TO GREEN ENERGY
Energy Efficiency

Whilst using and generating renewable energy are really important, we also need to reduce our energy consumption. There are two key areas which should be our priority; using less energy and insulating our homes. The no.1 thing we can do is Insulate, Insulate, Insulate! Check out our tips about things you can do which will mean that you use less energy with little or no impact on your lifestyle, and make sure that when you do use energy, it is being used efficiently.
TOP TIPS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Sustainable Living

Sustainable living actually covers everything, but for the purposes of this website, we're looking at other stuff which we can all do which is still fun and worthwhile, but maybe doesn't involve renewable energy or being energy efficient. At least, not directly. Hot topics include; Food, Travel, Waste and Water.
TOP TIPS FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVING