Matthew Jenkins' BlogA blog about Worcester, politics and the environment

Eco homes map is a new website that I’m setting up.

Eco homes map aims to provide a useful resource for people thinking about making their homes more environmentally friendly.

There are many options available for improving the energy efficiency of your home and for generating renewable energy. However, it’s difficult to know what would be best for your particular home. Would a wind turbine really be a good idea? Which type of solar panels should I get?

One of the best ways to answer these questions is to ask the people who have already taken the plunge. Preferably, someone nearby. Hence, this site.

Do you have an eco home?

If you have attempted to make your house a more environmentally friendly home, then I’d like to hear about it.

Go to eco homes map (www.ecohomesmap.org.uk) and fill in the eco homes form with as many details as you wish, including any pictures and where you are, and your eco home will appear on our eco homes map. If you are happy for people to contact you, either directly or through eco homes map, then please say so.

The new feed-in tariff was introduced by the government on 1st April 2010. You can now earn a fixed income for every kilowatt hour of electricity you generate and use in your property. You earn an additional fixed income for every kilowatt hour of electricity you generate and sell back to the grid.

For the average household using 4,500kWh of electricity a year, the Feed-In Tariffs will provide the following benefits if about 2.5 kW of solar PV panels were installed:

• 2,500kWh of electricity generated paying the homeowner £800 a year tax-free
• Remaining electricity costs reduced from £450 to £300 saving £150 a year
• Therefore the total annual benefit is £950 per year

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