South Yorkshire is the greenest part of Yorkshire, according to The Energy Saving Trust.

The Trust says that since April people in South Yorkshire have installed more renewable energy systems than the rest of the region put together.

There are now a total of 426 installations in the county - most of them in Sheffield, followed by Rotherham, Barnsley, and then Doncaster.

That compares with 199 installations in West Yorkshire, 78 in North Yorkshire and 40 in the Humber.

Energy Saving Trust regional microgeneration coordinator Jos Mister says the launch of the Feed in Tariff, which pays people a premium for selling energy they generate to the grid, has spurred demand.

The Trust says South Yorkshire's success is largely due to growth in the number of people opting to take up offers from companies that will install solar power systems for free, giving the owner of the property the benefit of free electricity, while pocketing the cash for the unused electricity generated.

"Although these free schemes are great if all you are wanting is some free electricity, you are signing your Feed in Tariff payment to the installation company who will earn up to £23,000 from your roof over the 25 year lifetime of the Tariff," adds Jos.

Not every installation in South Yorkshire has been done on that basis, however

Among those where the householder is benefiting from free electricity and selling the surplus is an award-winning scheme carried out by Machon Bank-based eco-energy specialist Positive Footprint.

Positive Footprint took first prize in the Best Home Installation category of the Yorkshire and the Humber Microgeneration Partnership Awards for its energy saving makeover of a Sheffield home, using products sourced from the Green Energy Centre on Broadfield Road.

Positive Footprint secured its success by combining electricity generating solar cells with an air source heat pump, back-up battery and a tenfold increase in the depth of insulation.

The solar cells cover the entire south facing roof of the property, forming the biggest array to be installed on a house in mainland UK, and allow the property to generate sufficient electricity to supply all its needs.

The air source heat pump supplies all the property's hot water needs and the back-up battery ensures maximum use is made of the energy generated by the solar panels, in addition to acting as a back-up in case of a power cut when not enough electricity is being generated by the panels.

Positive Footprint also replaced the original 25mm deep 1960s insulation with 280mm of modern insulation, so that the house meets current-day building regulations.

South Yorkshire Housing Association came first in the Best Development category of the same awards for its eco-housing development on Henley Rise, in the Masborough area of Rotherham.

It's project, dubbed Europe's first 'Solar Street,' combined the use of solar collectors to provide both hot water and electricity, supplying between 40 and 50 per cent of their occupants energy needs.

The housing association designed the houses to minimise energy demand, which means they don't need additional heating during most of the year and worked with Sheffield Hallam University and Rotherham Council to provide residents of the 23 homes with practical advice on how to adopt a low-carbon, low-energy lifestyle.

thestar.co.uk