The Alternative Technology Centre (ATC) is a not-for-profit organisation established in 1999 on the banks of the Rochdale Canal in Hebden Bridge.

As an educational resource centre, we aim to make sustainability achievable and simply irresistible by working from a strong base within our local community to provide inspiration, accessible information and advice to improve the quality of life using sustainable means – economic, environmental and social.

What's New

Power from the Landscape

The ATC is pleased to announce that we have been successful in our recent bid to the Pennine Prospects LEADER programme for a grant to support communities across the South Pennines in deveoping small scale hydro projects.

The use of water power in the South Pennines can be traced back from the very early corn and fulling mills through to powering the Industrial Revolution of the 19thC. 

Power from the Landscape aims to make water power a common feature of the landscape once again and provide clean community owned energy for the people of the area. 

The landscape of the South Pennines is of steep sided valleys with small fast flowing rivers. The energy from this can be harnessed using modern micro hydro turbines to generate electricity to be fed into the grid.

If you have a site that you think would be suitable or would like any more information, please contact Pete Hill on pete@powerfromthelandscape.co.uk and see the website at www.powerfromthelandscape.co.uk

WORRIED ABOUT YOUR ENERGY BILLS?

The ATC can help you make sure that your home is well insulated, how to do it, what with and where to go for grants.

We can also help you if you are considering installing renewable enrgy equipment - including solar panels - yes even here in Yorkshire! - heat pumps, wind turbins, biomass and micro hydro.

CYCLE RECYLCE

A new project at the ATC.

Cycle recycle aims to reuse unwanted bikes – stopping them from being put into landfill (or the canal) – and helping people to be able to buy bikes at a reasonable price.

It will also hopefully encourage more people to get out of their cars and onto their bikes, get fit and have some fun at the same time.

We take old bikes, as long as they are not too far gone, parts and accessories (except for helmets).

You can drop off anything at the Alternative Technology Centre but please give us a ring first.

See www.cyclerecycle.org.uk for more details

Power in the Landscape

The Power in the Landscape project, carried out by the ATC with support from the Local Heritage Initiative, Hebden Royd and Calderdale Council and the local community, explores the water powered mills of the Upper Calder Valley, in particular the Colden Valley.

The Calder Valley was the powerhouse of the Industrial Revolution and the project has also looked at the potential for putting hydro power back in.

Free Low Energy Light bulbs

Have you got yours yet?
Two free bulbs to every householder (4 to people on benefits). Call in at the Green Shop ATC to pick yours up. The Green Shop also sells everything green from solar panels, wormeries, Earthborn and other eco paints, solar toys, wind up radios, energy saving bulbs of all types and much more.

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