Is Microgeneration the new clean revolution?
Microgeneration is likely to be an important step towards the Millennium Goal of ensuring environmental sustainability by the year 2015. This is an ambitious, if not idealistic, target which has been well-received by most – less so as an individual burden, and more of a sub-national one. “Let the government do something about it,” is the response of many. Although many argue the benefits of this concept, there are only a few that have actually taken a proactive approach as individuals or private businesses.
Great Britain, in particular, has come under direct criticism for not doing enough to reduce its carbon footprint on our increasingly delicate atmosphere. And if governments cannot be counted on to set in motion a plan to ensure ecological sustainability, how can we, as individuals, be expected to do so?
To counter these accusations of underachievement, the government has, over the past two years, set up a Microgeneration Strategy that aims to provide Zero- and Low- Carbon solutions for businesses, communities, and domestic dwellings. Its targets include all new homes being zero-carbon by 2016, while all new non-domestic buildings should be zero-carbon by 2019. A few years past the Millennium target of 2015, but still a very good step forward.
So what do these microgenerators actually entail? The answer lies in solar panels and windmills, or other small energy generators. With small solar and wind generator equipped to buildings, small home owners as well as larger businesses should be able to produce and supply energy on a local scale from renewable resources, making them self-sufficient. The Guardian argues that based on the DBERR report, Microgeneration might even be a rival to nuclear power.
What make microgenerators more beneficial on a smaller-scale is that they engender a self-sufficiency among domestic dwellings (particularly homes with no access to the main gas network), communities, and businesses, which decreases their dependence on the government for energy management. Self-sufficient energy management and helping create a greener world for us all seems like a win-win situation.
Microgeneration has its advantages when it comes to accessibility and affordability. Microgeneration is not, in fact, suitable for all homes, nor is it readily available for local shops. The fact that microgeneration is quite a recent development also means that there are very few specialists who know how to install a solar panel or windmill to a private house. This brings us to affordability – the costs of installing our own energy producers will be a bit too much for most people, which reaffirms the argument that climate change will require government subsidies.
So is microgeneration the best way to ensure environmental sustainability? Policy makers, such as UK Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks think so. As long as the government makes more information readily available about the benefits and disadvantages of microgeneration, and provides the proper financial schemes and support, then most people should have no problem embracing this technology. However, until technology improves and its prices come down significantly, none of this obviates the need for other crucial targets such as reducing energy wastages and improving our domestic recycling.
Filed under: Home Based Business