| In these environmentally troubled times, not a day | | | | hour for private residences, meaning that France |
| goes by without another scheme promising to | | | | would enjoy one of the most generous solar |
| drastically reduce our impact on the environment | | | | incentive schemes in the world. The proposed |
| being unveiled. Buzzwords like "eco-friendly" and | | | | incentives will be calculated in relation to |
| "green" are frequently bandied about, and even | | | | geographical location - areas enjoying the highest |
| the most environmentally unaware of us are | | | | levels of sun will offer significantly lower tariffs |
| familiar with the concept of the carbon footprint | | | | than those with a cloudier climate. Jean-Louis |
| and the need to minimise it. "Going green" is no | | | | Borloo, French minister for energy and the |
| longer the sole preserve of the drippy hippy and | | | | environment, has grand plans for France's future, |
| the militant eco-warrior; green is in, and there are | | | | aiming for 23% of French energy to be |
| now a wealth of ways in which to contribute to | | | | generated by solar power by 2020, in compliance |
| the environment without having to compromise | | | | with EU obligations. |
| on lifestyle. | | | | Although some may have previously rejected the |
| Switching to solar power is a simple and effective | | | | idea of installing solar panels on the grounds that |
| way to join the struggle against global warming | | | | they are bulky and unattractive, this is no longer a |
| while also benefiting from significally reduced | | | | valid excuse. Technological advances have |
| energy costs. This has been recognised by the | | | | rendered them slim, sleek and unobtrusive - even |
| European Union; although renewable sources | | | | stylish - and new-build developers have been quick |
| currently generate less than 7% of energy across | | | | to recognise the potential environmental and |
| Europe, Brussels has announced bold targets of a | | | | economic benefits. It is becoming increasingly |
| 20% overall increase in renewable fuel increase by | | | | common for new developments to list integrated |
| 2020. | | | | solar panels as one of their major selling points, |
| Photovoltaic panels differ from conventional solar | | | | illustrating the fact that an ecologically sound |
| panels in that they convert light energy into | | | | lifestyle has become a priority for buyers. The |
| electricity, rather than being reliant on solar heat | | | | energy required to manufacture a solar panel is |
| energy. In the south of France, which enjoys up | | | | cancelled out after two or three years of use, |
| to 12 hours of sunshine a day during the summer | | | | and each panel has a life span of a number of |
| and up to 5 hours a day in midwinter, both types | | | | decades, so it is an entirely carbon neutral method |
| of panel can be used to great effect. However, | | | | of generating power. |
| the switch to solar power is only a viable option - | | | | As the name implies, solar panels harness the the |
| it is also a lucrative one. France is currently taking | | | | immense natural energy of the sun; solar rays are |
| drastic steps to address the issue of climate | | | | a completely renewable, entirely non-polluting form |
| change; President Sarkozy is determined to make | | | | of raw energy, creating electricity cleanly, simply |
| the country "the world leader of non-carbon | | | | and silently without the harmful by-products |
| energies, by developing renewable energy and | | | | associated with the use of fossil fuels. At first |
| drawing on its industrial know-how", and, to this | | | | sight, the cost of installing the photovoltaic panels |
| end, recently announced plans for a controversial | | | | can seem prohibitively expensive - equipment |
| new "carbon tax" which aims to penalise those | | | | generating the recommended amount of |
| with excessively high carbon emissions. | | | | electricity for a family of four would initially seem |
| Although these proposals have met with | | | | to set you back around EUR15000. There are, |
| widespread opposition, the French government | | | | however, a number of other incentives that could |
| has followed them up with an altogether more | | | | be taken advantage of, and which would |
| enticing scheme - it plans to increase the | | | | drastically reduce the overall installation costs. |
| generous incentives which are offered to | | | | For example, the installation may be eligible for a |
| businesses and individuals in return for switching to | | | | local or regional grant, which could bring initial costs |
| solar power. The regulations are currently still in | | | | down to around EUR10500. Additionally, the |
| the drafting stages, but are expected to be put | | | | benefits of drastically slashed electricity costs |
| into practice by January 2010. The sums of | | | | make the idea of switching to solar power both |
| money awarded to new converts to solar power | | | | viable and enticing. |
| could be as much as 30 cents per kilowatt per | | | | |