As the world gets warmer, we see more and more initiatives to reduce our carbon footprint.
You can make a big difference by making small changes in your life. In our technologically based society, there is an abundance of ways to tackle the greening of your home.
Green living may seem complicated, but it doesn’t have to be.
If you want to be environmentally friendly and do your part to help or are looking for a simple, cheap, and easy way, then microgeneration is right for you. Or you can also check out Utility Bidder for more information.
Let’s take a look at what this home-grown green electricity means.
What Is Microgeneration?
The idea behind microgeneration is simple: If we don’t rely so much on power plants, we’ll reduce our overall carbon footprint and help save the planet.
Microgeneration is the practice of generating electricity on-site, either through solar panels or some other form of renewable energy.
How Do You Get Started With Microgeneration?
Microgeneration includes solar panels, wind turbines, and hydroelectric generators, but it can also include other forms of renewable energy like biogas and biomass (such as wood pellets).
Here are the many ways you can get started with microgeneration:
Solar Panels
Solar panels are one of the most common forms of microgeneration technology, and they’re straightforward to install.
They consist of photovoltaic cells, which convert sunlight into electricity when exposed to light. This means they work well in areas with lots of sunshine, such as Spain or California but less so in places like Scotland where the sun doesn’t shine very often.
Wind Turbines
A wind turbine converts kinetic energy from the wind into mechanical energy, turning an electrical generator shaft connected to your home’s primary supply grid.
Wind turbines are great because they don’t require fuel and produce zero emissions, so they are environmentally friendly.
Hydroelectricity generators
Hydroelectricity is a term used for electricity produced from water. These generators convert the kinetic energy of flowing water into electrical power through turbines and generators.
Individuals and businesses use hydroelectricity as an alternative power source, especially if they have access to rivers, streams, or other bodies of water.
A hydroelectricity generator uses this energy source to create electricity for homes and businesses. Depending on your needs and budget, the process can be simple or complex.
Generators come in many shapes and sizes depending on how much power they can generate and how much space they take up.
You also have many options for fuel sources, including gasoline or diesel fuel, solar panels or wind turbines, and hydroelectricity itself. Some generators are portable so that you can move them around quickly.
Biomass generators
Biomass generators are an inexpensive way to generate power, and they are made from organic materials, such as wood chips, corn cobs, and rice hulls. Thus, biomass generators are not only environmentally friendly but also cost-effective.
Biomass generators produce two different types of energy: heat and electricity.
You can use the heat for water in your home or for drying crops. You can use electricity for lighting, cooking, and other appliances in your home.
The amount of electricity produced by a biomass generator depends on the fuel used, the size of the unit, its location (outdoors versus indoors), and the weather conditions.
What is the Microgeneration Certification Scheme?
The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) is a not-for-profit company, the Microgeneration Certification Organisation Ltd (MCO).
It has been developed by a partnership of Government and industry experts, including Ofgem, BSI, BCU, and BRE. The MCS is currently the only scheme that certifies renewable energy products and installations across the UK.
The scheme helps to give consumers confidence when purchasing renewable energy equipment that meets the standards set by the MCS, mainly where a product has not been tested independently by an accredited testing house.
The MCS mark also gives manufacturers an independent seal of approval for their products. In addition, it’s reassurance to installers and distributors that customers are buying products that meet the required standards.
There are two levels of certification:
Level 1: This only certifies that your product meets the minimum legal requirements for selling as ‘green.’ It does not require any additional checks from us.
Level 2: This certification means an approved installer has checked your product to ensure it meets all legal requirements and has been tested by an approved laboratory for performance against its specifications.
But, it’s worth noting that MCS-certified products aren’t necessarily ‘Green’ or ‘Eco Friendly’ – there are plenty of other environmental standards.
MCS differs from other schemes because it offers an independent assessment of products based on their performance against rigorous technical criteria rather than just environmental impact (as other systems do).
Where Can You Learn More About Microgeneration?
If you’re looking for ways to be more environmentally conscious, there are plenty of places you can go to get started.
You can learn more about microgeneration by looking at the websites of various companies that sell energy-efficient products and services.
For one, the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) is a great place to start. They’ve got a wealth of information about microgeneration on their website.
If you want to know more about the different types of microgeneration, you can read DECC’s report on the subject here. It’s worth noting that they use the term ‘microgeneration’ and ‘micro-CHP’ interchangeably.
If you’re looking for an overview of all kinds of energy-saving tips and green living advice, check out the DECC’s Energy Saving Advice Hub.
Final Thoughts
Green living is no longer just for the hippies. Instead, it’s just good sense to be more eco-friendly in your daily life. You can do many simple things to impact the environment positively.
The good news is that you don’t have to make sweeping sacrifices to earn your environmentally friendly badge.
No one is asking you to move into a yurt, sell all your possessions, or lower your standard of living. Instead, you can take advantage of microgeneration.
With microgeneration, you can have a small but significant impact on the environment to help mitigate climate change. What’s more, if we can get our energy generation system off of non-renewable sources of energy, it will help us avoid the harmful effects of pollution.
Microgeneration may not sound as exciting, but its impact can be just as significant if we all make small changes.