The people of tiny Scottish island Eigg have been awarded the overall UK Ashden award for energy efficiency after halving their energy usage and generating 90 per cent of their electricity from renewable sources.

The 95 residents of the island cut home and business energy usage by 47 per cent by improving home energy efficiency and teaching themselves how to use less energy. 90 per cent of all the island’s electricity comes from a combination of hydro, solar and wind power and each home’s usage us capped at 5 five kilowatts and businesses are capped at 10. Every resident has an energy monitor and if the limit is exceeded, it warns them and trips off their electricity but so far this hasn’t happened.

The community is also notified when renewable energy supplies are low through a traffic light system which keeps them informed with posters around the island and via email alerts. Being involved in the traffic light system is voluntary but according to the director of Eigg Electric.

The chair of Eigg’s green team stated:                       

We're not saying everyone has to create a renewable energy grid or do a complete eco-renovation job on their home. But as a small group of people - whether it's an apartment block, a street, or an office - can identify what it is they are trying to achieve, do it, and celebrate it together."

Author:  Thomas Davies

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