Sustainable Cottenham shared the disappointment felt by many on hearing the government’s plans to reduce Feed-in Tariffs (FiTs) for photovoltaic (PV) electricity generation. The decision to bring forward the cut-off date to 12th December prevented many households from installing PV panels at the FiT rate they had planned for and also had an adverse effect on many of the small companies engaged in their installation.

 

South Cambridgeshire District Council took a decision not to proceed with the installation of PV panels on the roof of South Cambridgeshire Hall. The contractor that they employed to install panels on the roofs of SCDC housing stock also withdrew, leaving the council and many of its tenants bitterly disappointed. 

 

But the news is not all bad for those of us interested in conserving energy (and saving money):

 

•      The cost of photovoltaic panels continues to come down and, even with the less generous tariff, is approaching the point at which it will still be economically sound to consider their installation on our homes;

•      Generous grants are available to improve household insulation.  How many of us have adequate insulation in our lofts?  Most of us have some, but have you checked whether it is the recommended 270mm (approximately 11 inches)? This is something that costs far less; there are grants available to all; for some the work can even be carried out free of charge;

•      The Renewable Heat Incentive is expected to be launched in the domestic sector later in 2012 to incentivise solar hot water and heat pumps; and

•      The government is also launching a new programme in 2012: The Green Deal, which will offer benefits to householders.

 

Sustainable Cottenham will be one of the first members of SCDC's Sustainable Parish Energy Partnership to promote the new programme designed to increase the number of well insulated homes.  This will be one of the features of Sustainable Cottenham's Village Energy Day, ‘Cosy Cottenham’, on Saturday 14 January 2012, 10.00 to 14.00 at Cottenham Community Centre.  Details of the organisations participating and the speakers contributing to the day can be found on our website: www.sustainablecottenham.org.uk.

 

Lynda says: 'This will be an event worth attending. The coffee shop will be open throughout and there will be activities for children. We very much look forward to seeing you there.'

 

Click here to download a poster.