Wind Turbines – You can do it if you B&Q it!

In August 2006 the electrical retailer Currys began selling photovoltaic solar panels at selected stores. Now DIY superstore B&Q plans to sell budget-priced wind turbines and solar panels in 300 towns and cities throughout the UK. The wind turbines will cost £1,498 and the solar thermal panels by R M Solar cost from the same - with a survey and installation included in the price.

B&Q claim the average household should see the devices pay for themselves in three or four years, as long as no major changes are needed in the existing heating and plumbing systems.

A range of other energy efficient devices recommended by the Energy Saving Trust, such as low energy light bulbs, will also be available at the participating stores.

The initial promotion will last five weeks and is an experiment to ‘test the waters'. However B&Q say the new lines are a response to ‘genuine consumer interest'. With energy prices projected to continue rising, coupled with increasing mortgage payments, we predict that consumers will increasingly look to energy efficiency for cost reductions, they said. Even if the promotion did not produce the results expected, the company still expects to stock turbines and solar panels in a year's time.

It is hoped that if take up by the mass market is great enough, it could drive the price of micro generation technology down, energy generating devices could then become a common part of home improvements, instead of something that required a belief in the green cause.

Chief Executive of Energy-Assessors .com, Stephen Callaghan said, ‘This is marvelous news for anyone wanting to play a part in the energy efficiency of their home and reducing carbon dioxide emissions. B&Qare bringing energy into the mainstream market and making cost-effective measures available to the mass-market. This will be crucial when energy performance of home becomes measurable from June 2007 onwards. The energy performance certificates needed on every home coming to the market will certainly focus peoples attention on the energy -friendliness of their homes and the need to carry out any improvements before they put them onto the market.'

Anyone who has successfully passed the new qualification become an accredited energy assessor will be able to offer this service to landlords, and if you obtain the Diploma in Home Inspection, you can carry out the Home Condition Report, including the Energy Performance Certificate. This area of work will not automatically be cornered by Home Inspectors - although to be a Home Inspector, you will have had to display competence in the RdSAP methodology.