Hammersmith and Fulham Friends of the Earth -Develope Your Skills

Hammersmith and Fulham
Friends of the Earth

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Q & A

Here are a selection of questions that we have been asked, and our answers to them:

Q: I'm interested in installing solar panels on my roof. Are there any grants available, and where can I get more information?

A: The first thing you will have to decide is if you want to go for solar PV (electricity generation) or solar water heating (or both!):

* Solar water heating is cheaper (about £2,000), but is only useful if you have a hot water tank. Clear Skies (www.clear-skies.org) tells you about grants for solar water heating (currently £400) and other renewables.

* Solar PV costs between £5,000 and £8,000 (depending on the number of panels) including a 50% grant from the Energy Saving Trust (www.est.co.uk/solar)

Also, RSPB Energy (one of the FoE green electricity best buys until the parent company Scottish & Southern decided to buy a coal-fired power station) provide a solar installation service in conjunction with solarcentury, and if you go for PV, they also buy back any surplus electricity you produce - check out www.goingsolar.co.uk for more details.

And another renewable option is wind - Windsave (www.windsave.com) has info about a new wind turbine for domestic use that costs around £1,000.

However, in terms of getting the biggest reduction in carbon dioxide emissions for your money, it's worth considering energy efficiency - visit www.est.org.uk/myhome and fill in their home energy check for personalised advice on what can be done.

Q What can I do with my old computer?
Don't throw it away! - (www.furnish.org.uk) is a local community store who reuse many things including computers if they have a high enough spec. Computer Aid International recycles computers for reuse in developing countries. Call 020 7281 0091 for a free collection if you have a usable computer to donate. Computers for Charity also accepts some computers, call 01288 361199 for details.
Otherwise you can sell them online (www.ebay.co.uk), donate them to charity (www.digital-links.org), donate to someone else (www.donateapc.org.uk) or recycle them (www.wasteonline.org.uk).

Q How do I recycle my old handset?
Stop your old mobile phone or printer cartridges going to landfill by contacting Oxfam, ActionAid or Rainforest Concern, which will recycle and re-sell them.

Got questions? Get answers from our Environmental Information Service