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This is something I am thinking of getting, but I need to know the advantages and disadvantages of doing so.  I am hoping in time to have my house running on renewables and moving away from the Grid.  Not entirely sure this is possible but we'll see in time.  In theory these sound like a good idea, but never having had one before I need to know about them, costs of installing, running costs, how much it would save me etc

A good friend of mine wants to get Solar Panels installed.  She has asked me to see if I can get some indication of costs for her, as it's been a while since I got mine, I've forgotten what the criteria is and what people need to know to obtain a quote for her.  Any recommendations of companies to approach in the South East for quotes for her

I managed to get mine when this was in operation - it was my first foray into renewables and the best thing I've ever done.  My friend though didn't get round to it (busy with working, children etc) and now the scheme seems to have ended.  She has been told that her local energy supplier may offer something but she is worried about the costs.

Does anyone know what happened to it?

As a person who is really getting into renewables, what is the best way to harvest rainwater?  Currently I use water butts, but is there anything better?

Can there be a system set up that harvests it and then re-uses it automatically? 

Other than the standard plant watering and for the small furry animals.

What else can rainwater be used for?  Obviously we can't drink it ourselves.  I have water butts that I collect it in, is there anything better? we have 2 butts that stand under the shed to collect the water from the drain pipe.

Having seen that they want to make a wind turbine farm locally to me (out to sea) I'm trying to get the facts together.  I have heard differing stories that they are not generating as much as the government says they are, and others that say we should convert more to wave and wind power.  I'm even thinking about getting one at my house (see my other thread).

What are the outputs and savings for these please?

I think I may be going mad, but I'm positive I've read or seen somewhere that you can get smaller wind turbines for domestic use?  Am I right or have I just gone barking.
I'm guessing planning permission would be required to instal this on my property somewhere, but would it actually generate enough power to be worth the outlay?

I have an older house - it was built in the 1970's and has no insulation in the walls at all.  I'm not even sure we have Cavity walls to be honest, the walls appear thin as we can hear the neighbours in their house, including when they turn lights on!

Wanting to try and get our bills down and this is one of our options.