Changes

This Centre for Alternative Technology aims to show people how to live in a sustainable manner, in rural as well as in fully developed, urban areas. The centre focuses on renewable energy, environmental building, energy efficiency, organic growing and alternative sewage systems. The centre has a range of interactive displays and other exhibits of sustainable technologies in these fields.

CAT is used for day visits by individuals or groups such as schools. They also run educational programmes ranging from one week upto a year long for people who want to learn more about sustainable development and other topics. They also publish books on these topics for example recently published: “Choosing Solar Electricity: a guide to photovoltaic systems”

Throughout the year they organize activities, tours, as well as other events for visitors. They also run an information centre, which people can consult for free advice on sustainable living and a consultancy service for business or bigger projects.

====Water management====

====Solar energy====

There is a range of solar panels, photovoltaic devices, a solar water heating system and passive solar heating (for buildings).

====Whole Home====

The eco-friendly houses show easy methods of making your home more sustainable. One of the buildings is known as the best insulated building in Britain. It is filled with environmentally friendly household appliances. The garden outside, shows how rainwater can be harvested, food can be grown, composting, and other purposes.

====Wind Power====

There are a range of wind turbines in the CAT’s wind pavilion, each with a different capacity. Ranging from those suitable to charge vehicle batteries to those used to power hundreds of homes. Many of the appliances in the eco-cabins at the centre, run on energy from their wind generator. The CAT’s initiative also encouraged the building of two large turbines outside the centre, used by the community surrounding.