The Millennium Goals brought about a great wave of change to the ways in which countries go about conducting their internal and external policies – the UK included. Paradoxically Goal 7, which strives to alert countries to the importance of ensuring environmental sustainability, has been shrouded in controversy. While many perceive it as an idealistic stab at launching a green revolution, no individual has volunteered to take up the sword of microgeneration and lead the rest in to battle, rather looking at governments to take action.
Most governments have, in fact, taken steps to meet the target set by Millennium Goal number 7, but the UK, many argue, has not done enough to meet its neighbours’ clean standards. There is a fair question to be asked that if the government is not doing enough, can the citizens be expected to overcompensate?
In the recent years, Britain has done much to catch up to its green rivals, namely in the form of the Microgeneration Strategy, which was introduced two years ago by the Society of British Gas Industry. The Microgeneration Strategy is a mass-scale plan attempting to greatly reduce CO2 emissions. It aims to do this by providing zero- and low- carbon solutions for businesses, domestic homes, and communities. Its main targets are for all new homes to be zero-carbon by 2016, and all new non-domestic dwellings to achieve the same by 2019. Although this is later than the original timing set by the Millennium goals, it is still a very strong declaration of intent.
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 is more, microgenerators are particularly beneficial for particular types of homes, such as those with no access to a central gas network. This newly acquired self-sufficiency of future households, communities, and businesses would make them less dependent on large industrial power plants. The Guardian argues that Microgeneration might even be a rival to nuclear energy. We need to ask ourselves whether these advantages are enough to encourage people to make their own contributions to helping preserve the planet for their great-grandchildren.
Like any new method, Microgeneration does have its hurdles that need to be assessed and overtaken. For one, it is not suitable for all types of homes. It is, for example, not readily available for local shops, nor is it easy to find many who are specialized in installing these microgenerators. Affordability is also a problem for many, reaffirming the old argument that ecological sustainability is only attainable by those who can afford it.
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.
Tal Potishman, editor of Heating Central, writes articles about plumbers, central heating, plumber London, underfloor heating and solar thermal. He specializes in helping save money by advising on efficient heating.
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