solar energy: 1/25 of 41
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How solar power came to a Brixton council estate

Mark Briggs

25th April, 2012

Following a successful share issue, the UK's first 100 per cent community owned inner-city social housing solar power project went live last month. Mark Briggs visited to find out more more...

The communities taking renewable energy into their own hands

Ed Mayo

5th January, 2012

A new report by Co-operatives UK and The Co-operative Group examines those investing time and money in installing solar panels, wind turbines or hydro-electric power for their local communities more...

Retrofit revisited: one year on

Sue Wheat

22nd August, 2011

The salvaged velvet curtains are in and the newly painted walls are good to go but was it all worth it? In the final installment of her ecorefurb diary, Sue Wheat takes a retrospective look at a challenging year more...

TAKE ACTION to save the UK's solar industry

Matilda Lee

8th June, 2011

Solar could provide one third of the UK's electricity demand. So why has the government recently slashed the feed in tariff? more...

Power: keeping it green

Henry Gass

3rd June, 2011

Angela Merkel’s decision to dispense with nuclear power has left environmentalists around the world exploring alternatives. Henry Gass weighs up the options more...

Why India doesn't need World Bank energy funding

Matilda Lee

3rd June, 2011

Ahead of the release of the World Bank's revised energy strategy, the Ecologist speaks to sustainable development advocate Srinivas Krishnaswamy about why despite huge gigawatt power projects, 45 per cent of India's households still lack electricity more...

solar panels on roof, sunflowers in foreground

Solar power: a niche or serious energy source for the UK?

Mark Jansen

27th April, 2011

Much more than just a tool to engage communities in climate change issues, the solar industry argues it could meet between 6-8 per cent of the UK's electricity needs by 2020 more...

Revealed: how your country compares on renewable investment

Tom Antebi

29th March, 2011

A breakdown of how major countries compare on their success in attracting investment in wind, solar and other forms of renewable energy in the past year more...

PassivHaus construction: the future of UK housebuilding?

Laura Sevier

22nd October, 2010

German design, British location, tropical climate. Super-efficient PassivHaus construction makes for warmer homes and lower energy bills. So why aren't we all building this way? more...

Renewables offer cash boost for local communities - think tank

Emily Shelton

16th September 2010

If climate change isn't enough motivation, the increasing financial benefits from renewable energy could pave the way for lower carbon lifestyles, a leading think tank has claimed more...

How to make money from fighting climate change

Reg Platt

16th September 2010

Renewable energy presents a unique opportunity for getting communities engaged in reducing their emissions - and benefiting financially - says Reg Platt of IPPR more...

Solar power – the hidden threat to water supplies

Andrew Williams

18th August, 2010

Concentrating solar power plants seem in many ways like a silver bullet for the world's energy problems - but have we looked closely enough at their environmental impacts? more...

solar energy: 1/25 of 41
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Turning our Victorian terrace into an ecohome: part four - ecogadgets

Sue Wheat

13th August, 2010

Sue immerses herself in the addictive world of ecogadgetry, including water-powered alarm clocks and a crash course in cooking with blankets... more...

Growing green grapes and bottling sustainable wine in India

Anna da Costa

10th August, 2010

Viticulture is growing at a rate of knots in India, and the country's largest winery is leading by environmental example more...

Turning our Victorian terrace into an ecohome: part two - insulation

Sue Wheat

3rd June, 2010

Sue has a brief love affair with solar panels, but realises that if she shies away from the thorny issue of solid wall insulation, she's throwing good money after bad more...

How to make a solar water heater from plastic bottles

Giovana Zilli

6th May, 2010

Retired mechanic Jose Alano invented a simple, cheap, energy saving rooftop solar water heater which is benefiting thousands of people. Here's how it's done... more...

AUDIO: What does the new Feed-in Tariff mean for households?

Louise Parry

22nd March, 2010

It may have a dull-sounding name, but the Government's new Feed-In Tariff could revolutionise home energy generation. So how does it work, and what's the catch? more...

The solar powered house of the future?

Ecologist

4th March, 2010

This gallery of images shows a prototype solar powered, zero carbon house designed by students at Nottingham University more...

What's stopping us getting solar power from deserts?

Mark Jansen

10th February, 2010

Plans to use concentrating solar power plants in the Sahara to generate and export electricity have been on the table for years. Now, it looks as though political will might help move things forward more...

Solar lighting spells the end of kerosene in Africa

Charlotte Webster

8th February, 2010

A simple but effective solar kit is helping to bring light to homes in the less-industrialised world without the choking side-effects of kerosene lamps more...

UK to pay public for generating green energy - but will it be enough?

Ecologist

1st February, 2010

Campaign groups believe the payments will be too low to encourage significant numbers of people to install small scale renewable energy in their homes and communities more...

India's plan for a solar power revolution

Anna da Costa

18th August, 2009

India is set to embark on the country's largest solar endeavour - increasing solar capacity from 3 megawatts to 20 gigawatts by 2020 more...

'The Dawn Commute' by Jonathon LittleJohn

Campaigning for cheaper solar power

Stephanie Wallis

29th July, 2009

Feed-in Tariffs for renewables are what the UK needs to make home-grown energy more attractive. We look at what the 'We Support Solar' coalition is doing to bring about a change, and take a look at the group's new photography competition...
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