When 189 nations signed the Millennium Declaration in September 2008, consenting to adopt the eight development targets and take steps to achieve them by 2015, many of us enthusiastically welcomed the notion of launching into an idealistic new future, only to turn our backs on the Declaration seconds later and continue with our busy lives. Particularly when it came to Goal Number Seven: ‘ensure environmental sustainability,’ we nod, right, great idea! Government, you do something about it.

Great Britain, in particular, has come under direct criticism for not doing enough to reduce its carbon footprint on our increasingly delicate atmosphere. And if governments cannot be counted on to set in motion a plan to ensure ecological sustainability, how can we, as individuals, be expected to do so?

In the recent years, Britain has done much to catch up to its green rivals, namely in the form of the Microgeneration Strategy, which was introduced two years ago by the Society of British Gas Industry. The Microgeneration Strategy is a mass-scale plan attempting to greatly reduce CO2 emissions. It aims to do this by providing zero- and low- carbon solutions for businesses, domestic homes, and communities. Its main targets are for all new homes to be zero-carbon by 2016, and all new non-domestic dwellings to achieve the same by 2019. Although this is later than the original timing set by the Millennium goals, it is still a very strong declaration of intent.

So what do these microgenerators actually entail? The answer lies in solar panels and windmills, or other small energy generators. With small solar and wind generator equipped to buildings, small home owners as well as larger businesses should be able to produce and supply energy on a local scale from renewable resources, making them self-sufficient. The Guardian argues that based on the DBERR report, Microgeneration might even be a rival to nuclear power.

What make microgenerators more beneficial on a smaller-scale is that they engender a self-sufficiency among domestic dwellings (particularly homes with no access to the main gas network), communities, and businesses, which decreases their dependence on the government for energy management. Self-sufficient energy management and helping create a greener world for us all seems like a win-win situation.

Like any new method, Microgeneration does have its hurdles that need to be assessed and overtaken. For one, it is not suitable for all types of homes. It is, for example, not readily available for local shops, nor is it easy to find many who are specialized in installing these microgenerators. Affordability is also a problem for many, reaffirming the old argument that ecological sustainability is only attainable by those who can afford it.

Is microgeneration the best path for a more sustainable planet? Government officials, such as Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks, agree that it is. More government backing in the form of education about microgeneration as well as financial support schemes will increase the idea’s viability in the public eye. The fact that this scheme has the potential to decrease CO2 emissions on a massive scale should be convincing enough for many, but for those who are unwilling to loosen their purse strings just yet, recycling is the next best solution.

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