It’s true that wind-power is still in it’s infancy for domestic usage, but it can make a valid contribution to your eco-energy generation, although it will only supply part of your needs, but every bit helps. Many areas in the UK are just not windy enough for turbines, and domestic turbines tend to be 1kW models that, in optimum conditions, generate around 1kW of electricity. The average UK home uses around 6,000kWh (kiloWatt hours) of energy a year, so for real impact you need a 6-10kW model. Optimum conditions are also only about 20 per cent of the time, and you will need an inverter to convert the DC current to AC and a storage battery. A 1kW tubine costs between £1,500 and £3,000, including installation, and a larger mast-mounted model can cost up to £20,000. B&Q stock the Windsave 1kW sytem (right), at £1,799, or www.windsave.com