BEFORE YOU START READING: do a language activity

WHEN YOU'VE FINISHED READING: do a language activity

The European Commission has set a target that 12 per cent of all domestic energy consumption must be from renewable sources by 2010. At present just six per cent of the UK’s energy consumption is from renewable sources, and we lag behind other countries when it comes to using solar power technologies. However, people in the UK are gradually switching to environmentally friendly fuel alternatives and we are starting to catch up with our European neighbours.  

Solar panels have been installed in tens of thousands of houses across the UK, including Nicky and Sal’s home. Nicky is an Environmental Consultant and Sal is a lawyer, and they live in the county of Suffolk, which is in the east of England. We asked them a few questions about why they use the sun to generate energy for their home.

How long have you used solar power?
We've had solar panels to heat our hot water since September 2001. The system has never given us any trouble and we use it as the sole method of heating water throughout the spring, summer and autumn.

Why did you decide to install solar panels?
We had it done because we do try wherever possible to minimise our negative impact on the environment. We had wondered about solar panels in a general way, and then a card flopped through the letterbox advertising a particular company.

Is it a problem relying on the sun in Britain? What about in the winter and when it’s raining?
We tend to add an hour of heating a day from the boiler in the depths of winter, though even today [8 February] the solar panels are working.

We're lucky that the back roof of our house faces due south so it collects the maximum sun. There's a sensor which tells you the temperature on the roof and the temperature in the top of the tank. On the roof at the moment it's 24 degrees although the air temp is only 9 degrees.

Are there any other problems?
The only thing we have to be a bit careful of is the temperature of the water in the summer – it frequently gets up to scalding temperatures, so we have to tell people not to burn themselves.

It wasn't cheap and goodness knows whether it will pay for itself in the electricity savings but we reckoned we could afford it, and it feels wonderful to bath in sunlight energy.

Although having solar panels is still relatively expensive, there are a number of benefits. As well as using a renewable energy source, reducing greenhouse gases and the use of fossil fuels, there are financial benefits. You can get grants to help with the cost of installation from organisations such as the Energy Saving Trust. It also means no more gas or electricity bills and it's tax free for life!