COMMENTARY
I have concluded that there is a very important need for a green economy, but I am also aware that the normal behavior of society and the economy is that only the 'possible' will be successful. Many of the proposals to achieve a green economy are not technically and economically sound, and are likely to put green initiatives into disrepute. Accordingly it is good to see an educational and research institution dedicated to learning and teaching about green technology and the associated economics.

See more at http://www.cat.org.uk/ and to see some of the information they make available see http://info.cat.org.uk/
Peter Burgess

Center for Alternative Technology (CAT) ... Britain's major centre for environmental inspiration and courses.

What do we do?

CAT is an education and visitor centre which demonstrates practical solutions for sustainability. We cover all aspects of green living: environmental building, eco-sanitation, woodland management, renewable energy, energy efficiency and organic growing.

Mission Statement

CAT is concerned with the search for globally sustainable, whole and ecologically sound technologies and ways of life.

Within this search the role of CAT is to explore and demonstrate a wide range of alternatives, communicating to other people the options for them to achieve positive change in their own lives.

This communication involves:
* .. Inspiring - instilling the desire to change by practical example
* .. Informing - feeding the desire to change by providing the most appropriate information
* .. Enabling - providing effective and continuing support to put the change into practice.

CAT has a holistic approach to its work, integrating ideas and practice relating to land use, shelter, energy conservation and use, diet and health, waste management and recycling.

Through its resident community and work organisation, CAT is also committed to the implementation of co-operative principles and best achievable environmental practices.

Our facilities

Our site is a unique and valuable practical demonstration centre, a living laboratory with an enormous range of live examples of sustainable solutions.

CAT has the largest range of installed renewable systems anywhere. These include:
* .. Photovoltaics
* .. Solar thermal
* .. A micro-grid
* .. Off-grid and grid-connected systems
* .. Biomass combined heat and power (CHP)
* .. Hydro
* .. Air source heat pumps
* .. A community heat main
* .. A range of small to medium wind turbines
* .. We also have two reed bed systems, our own off-mains water supply, and extensive organic gardens.

In our day-to-day activities we:
* .. Run a visitor centre which is open 7 days a week, with 7 acres of interactive displays.
* .. Offer a free information service answering enquiries on all aspects of sustainable living.
* .. Run a graduate school with a range of postgraduate degrees in environmental architecture and renewable energy.
* .. Run residential and one-day courses for the general public, as well as more specialised courses for builders, engineers, electricians and plumbers.
* .. Provide curriculum-based education to visiting schools, colleges and universities.
* .. Host residential education trips for schools and colleges in our unique eco-cabins.
* .. Carry out educational outreach work, including teacher training and school visits.
* .. Publish books on key environmental issues – and their solutions.
* .. Run a successful long-term and short-term volunteer programme for those that want to gain hands-on experience.
* .. Have a growing network of supporter members who receive our quarterly magazine and an invite to our annual conference.
* .. Provide an eco-shop and vegetarian restaurant on site, and a vegetarian café and wholefood shop in nearby Machynlleth.
* .. For those further afield, we also have a mail order service.

We also run or are involved with the following projects:
* .. ZeroCarbonBritain – a series of research reports addressing scenarios for reducing the UK’s emissions to zero in 20 years.
* .. Coed Gwern – 15 acres of sustainably managed woodland, which is home to a range of courses, as well as being monitored and managed for biodiversity.
* .. Dyfi Biosphere – the only UNESCO Biosphere in Wales.