UK home solar installations surge to highest level in a decade
Nearly 100,000 domestic solar panel systems were installed in the UK from January to June this year, per the latest data from the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS). This independent certification scheme certifies products and installers of small-scale renewable energy technologies.
Is it cheaper to run an electric vehicle or a petrol car?
More people are buying electric vehicles (EVs) than ever before, but the pace of change needs to pick up even further. That's according to the UK's Climate Change Committee (CCC), which advises the government on its net zero emissions targets
Your secret weapon against summer heat: home solar power + battery
A record-breaking heat dome over the central United States is sending temperatures – and cooling bills! – soaring into triple digit territory. Luckily, there’s a readily available technology that can help keep your home cool without playing that infuriating
These preppers have ‘go bags,’ guns and a fear of global disaster. They’re also left-wing
The day after President Donald Trump was elected in 2016, Eric Shonkwiler looked at his hiking bag to figure out what supplies he had. “I began to look at that as a resource for escape, should that need to
The roof that led a revolution in domestic energy
Thirty years ago, a quiet suburban street barely noticed the start of a revolution being built on its doorstep. A house constructed in 1995 was the first in Britain to incorporate a solar roof and would set the agenda
Solar panel installation: a step-by-step guide
Installing solar panels is a great way to lower your energy bills and lower your carbon footprint. You can also sell extra energy you make, making them even more worthwhile. But if you want to put solar panels on
Government to mandate rooftop solar for new builds
Ministers have confirmed the Future Homes Standard (FHS), to be published in Autumn, will include provision that all new build properties have solar PV installed. Energy secretary Ed Miliband said the “common sense” change to the standard marks a “monumental
‘People were buying crossbows faster than I’d like’ – how prepping went mainstream in Britain
Once, getting ready for the apocalypse was for the paranoid. Now, in the face of cyber-attacks, climate breakdown and nuclear threats, the UK government recommends it. Should everyone have a survival kit? This is a great time to be a
What are the challenges with residential solar systems in 2025?
Lots of installers wanting to enter the sector often ask me what the challenges are likely to be. This is multifaceted – with angles around installation but also integration and what consumers actually want. A big one at the moment