Microgeneration: Power By The People, For The People

Microgeneration is the local production renewable power by individuals and small communities.

Power to the People

Forget the national power grid. Small communities are starting to make their own energy from clean, renewable, local sources

At the Beddington Zero Energy Development in South London, they’re shouting their environmental credentials from the rooftops. Tidy little lawns sprout on top of each house — helping to insulate the buildings — as pastel-colored cowls swivel in the breeze, gently ushering fresh air into homes and offices while funneling stale air out. Solar photovoltaic panels soak up the sun — even on cloudy days — contributing to the development’s overall power mix. Most of the community’s heat and electricity come from a 130-kW generator fueled by timber clippings and similar waste from landscaping work.

By MARYANN BIRD

Full Story: http://www.time.com/time/europe/magazine/article/0,13005,901050509-1056238,00.html