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So the news that householders have been waiting for….and as always, there is disappointment for some and rewards for others..

In announcing the new feed in tariffs, the government has reneged on its original plan to radically alter the landscape for renewable energy. Instead, what most commentators see is in its proposed levels of support scheme for small-scale renewable energy schemes, is a distinct lack of ambition to tackle climate change.

Unveiling the new so-called feed-in tariffs (FITs) paid to people, communities or businesses who generate electricity from solar PV panels, wind turbines or other renewable sources, the governments energy secretary Ed Miliband said the government still only intends that this sector would eventually supply only 2% of the country’s electricity by 2020 – incredibly, and in spite of mounting evidence for rampant climate change, that’s the same figure he proposed in mid 2009.

But the sweeteners are that Some new technologies, such as solar photovoltaic panels on household roofs will get a higher feed-in tariff, and, importantly, all tariffs will be continually updated to adjust for inflation each year. But large-scale community wind turbines will now get a lower feed in tariff than proposed last year, leaving the overall level of support to the industry little changed.

And as with everything, this could all change after the election with the Conservative Party pledging to introduce a much higher rate of feed in tariff to match those in Germany. Either way, the time has come for renewables and for those of you who need to gain insight into PV, we will be offering the NIC Certification PV Installers course, from Mid April onwards – for more details on this, check out our courses section on the main web site www.totalelectricaltraining.com

A global switch to efficient lighting systems would trim the world’s electricity bill by nearly one-tenth.

That is the conclusion of a study from the International Energy Agency (IEA), which it says is the first global survey of lighting uses and costs.


The carbon dioxide emissions saved by such a switch would, it concludes, dwarf cuts so far achieved by adopting wind and solar power.

And so fellow electricians, this is the next big thing and my guess is, the one true (forgive the pun) light at the end of the tunnel.

With the updated “part L” of the building regulations, place emphasis on energy saving and effeciencies, the massive savings offered by changing lighting in the home and office to new LED lighting technologies could pave the way to more installations and more profit.

We are introducing a new course on energy effeciency in buildings soon………..watch this space and web site !