Apart from cancelled schemes, this government reversal of strategy “because it is too successful” creates uncertainty for investors – who will then ethically invest abroad.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (a misnomer if ever there was one) say they have to more than halve the FOT subsidy to “protect” it.

That is assuming a relatively tiny pot of money that can never be increased, only decreased. Since all governments of whatever stripe proclaim their green-ness these days, the proof of the pudding is in the eating (to mix metaphors). Both Labour and Conservative (and by extension the Lib-Dems) are not green at all, it is just a fashionable con, with a reluctant obedience to targets set in the EC.

We here used to build eco houses, before the crash of 2007. Then, we fitted Solar PV panels, which used to get a 50% government subsidy on the installation and hardware costs, with a complex application process of course, but there was no FIT (feed-in tariffs, payment for excess energy produced into the grid).

FIT is used in Europe a lot, but was ignored over here even though the entire alternative energy industry wanted it – because too successful.

Anyway that 50% subsidy for installation was also cancelled as too popular. In that system, there was always a rush at the start of the month, as applications had to get in before they maxed out.

What an appallingly stupid system – so the Conservatives are only carrying on a grand UK tradition of loud pro-green noises and quiet cancellations and downward revisions.

FAIL!

Note: we will be adding a DIY Solar Photovoltaic panel section soon – how to make your own panel and save a huge amout of money.

See our sections on:

Solar Energy and Power Advice and Tips>

Green Building advice and Tips >

The Conservative Government is reducing the FIT rate by half from December 12th 2011. Any solar PV panels installed and also registered with an energy company will qualify. So it is no good booking it in as the waiting times are long, as there is now a rush to sign up. There is always a delay in physically fitting the panels (6 weeks is very short time).

Also the energy companies ar ein no hurry to register your panels for the increased FIT rate – as they have to subsidise it as part of some energy reduction deal.

Comment
This is typical of the start-stop approach to anything green by both the recent Labour and current Conservative governments. They don’t really have any interest in green issues, it is just a lot of noise to fool the public. Plenty of money can be found for almost anything else – current spending cuts are a drop in the ocean of UK debt.

If a green initiate is successful, it has to scaled back or stopped, in case it is… too successful. So what is the point of that?

Eco Technologies Workshop – Retrofit Your Home – 10am – 5pm

95% – 99% of housing is old not new – so green and sustainable technology has to be added to OLD homes and office snot just glamorous new housing.

• solar panels
• solar thermal
• insulation – all types natural, synthetic
• costs – very important!
• effectiveness
• ease of installation
• project planning for maximum effect

Tickets from the Buildstore website >

Many seminars.
11.00 – 11.30 Eco Technologies – What’s Available?
12.00 – 12.30 New Tricks for Old Bricks
13.00 – 13.30 Question Time – All Experts
14.00 – 14.30 What To Install & Where To Start

See our Green DIY and building index advice >

And Solar technology index advice >

Eco Show DIY building

And an Eco Incentives event has lots of advice on Feed-In Tariffs and Renewable Heat Incentives in the UK. There are also ‘walking seminars‘ where you get to traipse around the life-size exhibits there with an expert chatting,, this is a great way to ask questions and have a bit of fun. There is also an Eco Village setup. Quite ironic really – a village inside a vast exhibition hanger next to a motorway.

Basically a whole lot of DIY and building advice is there with a green angle – which is pretty mainstream these days.

The Big Green Home Show is on at National Self Build & Renovation Centre, which is in Swindon, off the M4, tomorrow, Fri 29th October to Sun 31st October 2010. The exhibition opens from 9.30am-5pm each day.

Tickets from here >

Small green roof

That time of year again, the Big Green Home Show in Swindon off the M4. Many exhibits, seminars, Expert Alley (Ask The Experts) where you can get answers to your home renovation questions.

Dates: Fri 29 to Sun 31 October 2010
Where:
The National Self Build & Renovation Centre, Swindon
Open from 9.30-17.00.

Car: M4 at junction 16, signposted Swindon West, Wootton Bassett. Down A3102, signposted Swindon, go left after 200metres.

Of course you should take public transport to Swindon centre then get out there on a Bus, which is easy.

Suitable for all DIY and professional builders, the exhibition centre is worth a visit if you have not been before – it is huge with many excellent permanent installations showing foundations, water recycling, walls, roof, even an old house being renovated.

Topics include:

Eco Technologies
Sustainable Building
Energy Efficiency
SAP Assessor & Code for Sustainable Homes
Environmental Buildings
Plot/Property Searching
Design, Planning & Building Regs
Building Control
Builders Merchants
Buying Materials
Planning
Mortgages & Finance
Insurance & Protection
Eco Project Management
Self Build
Building Work Guarantees

You can get tickets from here:

Big Green Home Show 2010 >

See also our Green DIY Building advice >

David Snell DIY building expert

David Snell is a Contributing Editor to Home Building & Renovating Magazine, and he and some other experts are giving some talks at the National Self Build and Renovation Centre off the M4 in west Swindon.

So if you are worried your new extension might fall foul of some local Inspector, you’d better get over there. Very easy to get to, it is just off Junction 16 (I think) at west Swindon; just head towards Swindon from the motorway and look out for it on the left about 50-100 yards from the motorway roundabout.

Saturday 24th, 10am to 5pm. No charge. For more details see Building and DIY regulations seminars >

Building DIY com also has a lot of information on this, see

DIY and Building finance, regulations >

and

Starting a DIY building project >

Eco show at Buildstore

Dave Hilton an eco expert is giving a talk, along with many others. This is at Buildstore exhibition centre at Swindon off M4 junction 16 >.

For a ticket see here >

See also our Building DIY green advice section >

and Solar section >

And Green roof, vertical gardening >

Also coming 2010:
Sat 10th April Eco Workshop – Sustainable Building Systems
26th – 30 April Self Build Course
15th – 16th May Affordable Self Build Weekend
Sat 12th June Eco Workshop – Sustainable Heat & Energy

Solar panels in a car park in Hull, UK (not quite FIT but whatever)

These proposals were set out a while back but we’ve been busy. The basic scheme is better than people expected with these figures:

A feed in tariff (FIT) allows home produced electricity from solar, wind, GSHP or water (etc) to compete on the grid, as national grid supplies are heavily subsidised.

Electricity is paid at a set rate. The new system pays for energy, whether you use it yourself or put it back into the grid.

This is in addition to any savings you make by using your own energy, or from selling back to the main supplier.

Feed-in tariff is set at

41.3p/kWh for a typical domestic solar photovoltaic PV installation.

26.7p/kWh for small wind turbines etc.

These rates are index linked to inflation over the life of the scheme (unless the Conservatives get in of course. Actually, do you believe Labour on green issues? I don’t think so).

Also there will be no income tax for people on revenue from the feed-in tariff, if the energy generated is used mainly by your own property (at the moment that is).

We will keep you posted of any developments.

See our pages at:

Energy microgeneration >

And Solar energy & solar power index >

Also Green building advice with renewable energy advice >

All the services, products, advice, and ideas to help you improve your home, office, garden or business. There are over 450 specialised companies for plot finding, finance, energy saving, wooden frame, gardens, lofts etc.

All in one easy to find venue (find Britain – it is in the middle).

See if you can get free tickets – most people qualify

Free tickets for National Homebuilding & Renovating Show Birmingham >

It is at NLA (New London Architecture – a front for The Building Centre a Council and commercially sponsored educational body for building and DIY).

Go to The Building Centre, 26 Store Street, London WC1E 7BT, between Friday 26 February and Saturday 20 March 2010.

See New London Architecture – London US Embassy >