A: Such creative urges command respect. There are enough things to make at home (beds, suppers, packed lunches) without starting on energy generating. But when you consider that half of the electricity generated at remote plants is lost either in heat or in transmission, it makes sense to do the job at home.

Home-energy generation is high on the green agenda at the moment and can be made possible thanks to the latest generation of micro-renewable options — technologies suitable for small-scale, household use. These are increasingly sold on the high street and the Energy Saving Trust estimates that they could provide 40 per cent of the UK’s total electricity needs by 2050. There are two key ways of going about this, through the wind and the sun.

Blowing your bills

Mini wind turbines, shunted into the limelight by David Cameron, are having a celebrity moment. Green Dave has been given the go-ahead by Eclectic Energy to erect a Stealthgen turbine on his Kensington property. Thrifty followers may wish to wait until October when they will be able buy a Windsave turbine at B&Q for an unbeatable £1,600, including installation (www.windsave.com). Naturally, the Tory leader’s turbine does not hail from this particular retailer. Nor has he opted for one that is included in the new grant scheme offered by the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) low carbon-building programme, which pays for 30 per cent of costs (www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk).

Still, his medium-sized turbine can be expected to save about £300 a year in electricity costs. The best bit about mounting your own blades is that you can be connected to the national grid so you can sell them surplus energy. The worst? That you probably won’t have any going spare. “Most people over- estimate wind speed; trees, fences and other houses all affect it,” says the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT). “Like a car, a turbine also needs care and regular MoTs.”

But don’t be discouraged: it is well worth visiting one of the “wind fairs” taking place nationwide on the August Bank Holiday weekend. Here you can mingle with turbine experts and owners to swap tips on how to exploit the wind successfully (www.embracewind.com/weekend).

Harnessing the rays

For most homes, solar panels are more feasible. “They are less site-specific,” says CAT. “All you need is a south-facing roof.” The process of installing panels will also be swifter now that the Government has scrapped planning permission for all domestic generators. The cheapest option is a solar heating system, which can meet up to half of a household’s hot water needs. It costs on average £3,000, some of which can be shouldered by the DTI’s grant scheme mentioned above (for more infomation, visit est.org.uk).

If your heart is set on producing electricity, look no further than photovoltaic (PV) cells. In defiance of our climate, these gems convert daylight, not just direct sunlight, into electricity. Although, like all of us, they work best on a sunny day.

And now you can pick them up on the high street. Currys announced last week that it is the first big retailer to line up solar panels next to its toasters and TVs (some branches only: www.currys.co.uk). Just don’t expect similar prices. A typical system made up of nine panels costs £9,000. Although these are capable of producing up to

40 per cent of a household’s electricity over a year, Jeremy Leggett, the founder of Solar Century (www.solarcentury.com), a company that holds 40 per cent of the UK solar market, says you shouldn’t expect immediate financial gain. It takes up to 16 years to recoup initial costs. With electricity prices set to rise, this is still an investment worth considering, if your pockets are deep enough.

Next week: Eco-worrier looks at more affordable methods of energy generation