In his latest blog, Councillor Jeremy Birch, leader of Hastings Borough Council, explores the possibility of transforming Hastings into a solar-powered town.

According to Cllr Jeremy Birch, there are a number of companies in the area offering solar panels for local homes and as part of the government’s feed in tariff homeowners would get paid for the extra electricity they can sell on to the national grid.

He writes: "If you can afford it, and you check out that the offer does make the best economic sense, then go for it."

Some companies also offer to lease a resident’s roof for 25 years and to install free solar panels for them.

This gives the resident free electricity during daylight hours and can save hundreds of pounds a year.

He says one local firm plans to install 4,000 free panels by next Spring.

http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Generate-your-own-energy/Solar-electricity.