In Germany, a lot of people value renewable energy and the contribution it makes to everyone in the country, not to mention the wider environment. Every second or third home in my neighbourhood seems to have a wind turbine or solar panel fixed onto the roof, which shows how eco-friendly my country is. However, I was amazed to find that the culture of renewable energy and sustainability over here isn’t being fully embraced by other countries, which is surprising.

I recently found out that Germany has more solar panels installed than any other country in the world, which I was shocked by, but when you see the number of roof panels in cities like Hamburg, Bremen and Berlin, it’s not that much of a surprise. Aside from commercial solar panels installations by Dulas and other companies, Germany is also home to large numbers of wind turbines, and even uses other forms of renewable energy such as hydro-electric power.

While the country as a whole does a lot when it comes to renewable energy, I like to feel that I’ve made my own contribution. At home, I have a wind turbine that works during the autumn, winter and spring or whenever it’s windy, and if that doesn’t work, I also have a solar panel on my roof. I bought them both as I wanted to be self-sufficient when it came to electricity, and found that it has massively reduced my carbon footprint.

As well as reducing the amount of CO2 my home produces, my renewable energy sources also help to save me money. By generating my own electricity, I don’t have to worry about paying massive bills every month, while I can use my washing machine, oven or fridge without fear of it turning off if the power supply’s interrupted. As well as helping myself and the family, I feel that I’m also helping the world, and if others follow my lead, then the world will become a better, greener place.