Have you got the E Factor?

TV weatherman Paul Hudson may not quite be Simon Cowell- but he’s still hoping to help crown a local householder as one of the region’s energy superstars.

The search is on for green energy pioneers to take part in the 1st Yorkshire and Humber Microgeneration Awards.

One of the most popular categories is expected to be in the Best Home Installation section, giving local people the chance to show how well they’ve used renewable sources like solar panels or ground sourced heat pumps to power their homes.

Entries will also be judged on how much energy is produced sustainably and any steps the householder has taken to reduce energy demand in the home.

The Awards, set up by the Yorkshire and Humber Assembly and the Energy Saving Trust, will showcase the best small renewable energy projects in the region, from wind turbines to solar panels.

The seven award categories are:- Best Home Installation; Best Public Building Installation; Best Community Installation; Best Business Initiative; Best Commercial Installation; Best Development and Best Policy/Policy Tool supporting Microgeneration

BBC Look North Weatherman Paul Hudson will announce the winners at an awards ceremony, also sponsored by the Centre for Alternative Technology and Microgeneration Yorkshire, on 26 April in Harrogate.

Each of the winners will receive £1000 worth of residential courses at the Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales where they’ll be able to use the knowledge they’ve gained to make further improvements to homes and developments.

Andrew Cooper, Energy Policy Manager at the Assembly said, "This is an exciting and expanding area with more and more people taking the opportunity to generate their own heat and electricity from on-site renewable sources such as solar, wind, heat pumps or biomass boilers.

“This not only saves the householder money but also means that the more people who use renewable energy, the greater the benefit to the environment".

Anyone wanting to enter any of the categories in the Awards should contact Andrew on 01924 331603, email andrew.cooper@yhassembly.gov.uk. The closing date for entries is Friday 16th March 2007.