6. Micro wind turbines

The micro wind turbine is an often maligned technology, but advocates claim it can make significant inroads into domestic electricity bills. Perhaps as the cost of bills rise ever higher, micro wind turbines will become a more viable solution. Wind turbines work by using the wind to turn aerodynamic blades that turn a rotor which creates electricity. Wind power is proportional to the cube of the wind’s speed, so relatively minor increases in speed can result in large changes in potential output. The Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform estimates that the UK has 40% of Europe's total wind energy, although this remains largely untapped.