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.
But what exactly does microgeneration do? Microgeneration involves the producing of energy through small-scale energy generators such wind turbines and solar photo voltaic electricity generating panels. It means that in the future, all buildings will be equipped with these small generators, allowing them to produce and supply their own energy, and in the process, reducing the mass impact that big energy generators have on the environment today.
Microgenerators are therefore highly beneficial for certain dwellings, particularly those with no access to the main gas network. Additionally, this newly acquired self-sufficiency of households, businesses, and communities reduces their dependency on central power networks. Not to mention that we are able to help lead the new ‘clean revolution’ and make our own contribution to making the world a greener, cleaner place.
Microgenerators systems also have disadvantages in the way that they are not necessarily accessible to everyone. Microgeneration is not suitable for a minority of homes, whereas some business establishments such as shops have little access to this technology at all. Moreover, since microgenerators are a quite modern development, there are still only few specialists who know how to install a private energy producing unit. Microgenerators are not exactly cost-friendly either, which reaffirms the old argument that the future of sustainable development will not begin until costs fall significantly.
So is microgeneration the best way forward? Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks, among others, agree that it is. With the proper government support schemes in place, such as grants as well as more information regarding the pros and cons of microgeneration, more people will be ready to embrace it. It has the potential to have a massive impact on the reduction of CO2 emissions, so the more accessible microgeneration is made to the British public, the more individuals can do to reduce their ecological footprint. For now, it’s back to recycling for most of us until we can afford to produce our own energy.
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