Description:
Our site is a unique and valuable practical demonstration centre, a living laboratory with an enormous range of live examples of sustainable solutions. CAT has the largest range of installed renewable systems anywhere. These include:
- Photovoltaics.
- Solar thermal.
- A micro-grid.
- Off-grid and grid-connected systems.
- Biomass combined heat and power (CHP).
- Hydro.
- Air source heat pumps.
- A community heat main.
- A range of small to medium wind turbines.
- We also have two reed bed systems, our own off-mains water supply, and extensive organic gardens.
In our day-to-day activities we:
- Run a visitor centre which is open 7 days a week, with 7 acres of interactive displays.
- Offer a free information service answering enquiries on all aspects of sustainable living.
- Run a graduate school with a range of postgraduate degrees in environmental architecture and renewable energy.
- Run residential and one-day courses for the general public, as well as more specialised courses for builders, engineers, electricians and plumbers.
- Provide curriculum-based education to visiting schools, colleges and universities.
- Host residential education trips for schools and colleges in our unique eco-cabins.
- Carry out educational outreach work, including teacher training and school visits.
- Publish books on key environmental issues – and their solutions.
- Run a successful volunteer programmes for those that want to gain hands-on experience.
- Have a growing network of supporter members who receive our quarterly magazine and an invite to our annual conference.
- Provide an eco-shop and vegetarian restaurant on site.
We also run or are involved with the following projects:
- ZeroCarbonBritain – a series of research reports addressing scenarios for reducing the UK’s emissions to zero in 20 years.
- Coed Gwern – 15 acres of sustainably managed woodland, which is home to a range of courses, as well as being monitored and managed for biodiversity.
- Dyfi Biosphere – the only UNESCO Biosphere in Wales.
