Towering 9m high on either side of the main entrance of the Solaris Centre, there are 2 wind turbines. Each one is rated at 6kW and has a rotor diameter of 5.5 metres. The turbines have 3 blades each and are of the "down-wind" type.  

The installation cost £35,000 and each turbine will generate approximately 7,000 kWh per year.

The turbines are designed to be extremely quiet and do not contain a gear box - the main source of the whining noise in large wind farm type machines.

At wind speeds above 25 mph, the blade pitch is automatically adjusted to maintain  200 rpm and full output.

Wind Turbines (PDF): Factsheet 

Proven Energy provided the turbines installed at the front of the Solaris Centre.

The photovoltaic installation on the Solaris Centre roof is light sensitive and generates an average of 30 KWh of electricity per day. This would power 3 average homes and saves around 5.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.

The full installation consists of 145 double glazed panels comprising 6,870 photovoltaic cells covering a total of 232 square metres.

DID YOU KNOW? Within one hour, the sun provides the Earth with enough energy to power the world's population for a year!

Hopefully every home in the country will have a renewable energy supply to help lessen our reliance on fossil fuels.

 - How do photovoltaic panels work? Download Part 1 of our Comic Strip!

 - How do photovoltaic panels work? Download Part 2 of our Comic Strip!

 - Photovoltaic Solar Cells (PDF): Factsheet

 - Solar Water Heating (PDF): Factsheet 

Think Global...

• Global temperatures have risen by 0.7°C in the last 300 years. 0.5°C of this warming occurred during the 20th Century. 2006 was the hottest year ever recorded.
• Between 1900 and 2000 sea level rose by 20cm (8 inches).
• By 2100 sea level is expected to rise by between 0.5 and 1 metre ( up to 3 feet). The exact amount is very hard to determine. Most of the world’s major cities are on the coast and therefore are at risk from being permanently flooded. 27 cities of over 8 million people will suffer serious devastation. Children born today will live to see this happen.
• If the Greenland Ice Cap totally melts the sea level will rise by 8 metres (27 feet) - it has already started to melt.
• The Arctic Ice Cap has shrunk to its smallest ever summer extent and is likely to disappear altogether during the summer in the next 50 years. In December 2007 this estimate was revised to only 20 years. perhaps even less.
• Over 20% of UK Carbon Dioxide emissions come from road transport.
• UK traffic volume has increased by over 10% in the last 10 years.
• On average each person in the UK is responsible for over 10 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.
• CO2 is the main greenhouse gas responsible for climate change.
• Increases in temperature and extreme weather events are forecast.
• The energy used in constructing, occupying and operating buildings represents 50% of the UK’s greenhouse emissions.
• It is imperative to stop the current increase in emissions of Carbon Dioxide in to the atmosphere. 

       Act Local...

• Every ton of recycled office paper saves 380 gallons of oil from being burned and 15 trees from being felled.
• Plant at least one tree each year
• Turn down your central heating thermostat by one degree. Fuel consumption (and bills) is cut by as much as 10%!
• Recycle as much as possible. Recycling materials can save up to 80% of the energy required to make the same product from new raw materials.
• Walk more – drive less - for every gallon of diesel used 13kg of carbon dioxide are emitted from your exhaust pipe - if you must drive, choose a smaller car and use biofuel (from either recycled cooking oil or sustainable sources) whenever possible. Or buy a hybrid car.
• Even if you are using energy saving bulbs turn lights off when leaving a room empty.
• Close your curtains at night, they help keep your heat in.
• Invest in insulation especially loft and cavity wall insulation - you may be eligible for a grant.
• Turn off appliances such as TVs and computers rather than leaving them on ‘stand-by’. Stand-by’ uses almost as much electricity as using the appliance. In 2003 about half of Blackpool's CO2 emissions came from domestic properties.
• Use washing machines and dishwashers on their economy program, and only when full.
• Dry washing outside whenever possible.
• Blackpool Council is currently spending £71 million to protect 3.2km (2 miles) of coastline from sea level rise!
•  Fly less - just one aeroplane making a return journey from the UK to the USA every day for a year will emit around half a million tonnes of Carbon Dioxide. How many vapour trails do you see on a clear day?
• If everyone did just one or two things from the list above to help the environment there would be a significant improvement.

More Eco-Factsheets! (PDF format)

• Ground Pump Water Heating: Factsheet
• Wood Fuel Heating: Factsheet
• Combined Heat And Power (CHP): Factsheet
• Anaerobic Digestion: Factsheet 

Environmental Links:

• Environment Day is 5th June, but please visit the website and offer a promise to yourself and the environment - Click here.