Guardian: Energy-conscious homeowners have several options

A number of options are available for people who are looking to generate their own electricity from home, according to a national newspaper.

The Guardian reported today (June 27th) that energy-conscious homeowners have a large selection to choose from when considering their microgeneration options.

While solar panels - which can be used for solar thermal or solar photovoltaics - can be used to power hot water systems and provide renewable electricity - are a popular choice and can be funded in part through grants from the Low Carbon Buildings Programme, there are a number of other choices that may be appealing to homeowners.

For example, air and ground source heat pumps can be a useful, low-maintenance way for people to cut their property's energy consumption, while wind turbines also remain a cost-effective option.

Prices of single wind turbines start from £2,000, making them a relatively inexpensive piece of microgeneration technology, the newspaper suggested.

Meanwhile, biomass and small-scale hydropower are two other renewable energy options that can be adapted for use at home, according to the Energy Saving Trust.