The Centre for Alternative Technology is an eco-centre in Powys, mid-Wales, dedicated to demonstrating and teaching sustainable development. CAT, despite its name, no longer concentrates its efforts exclusively on alternative technology, but provides information on all aspects of sustainable living. It is open to visitors, offers postgraduate degrees as well as shorter residential and one day courses; and publishes information on renewable energy, sustainable architecture, organic farming, gardening, and sustainable living. CAT also runs education programmes for schools and sells environmentally friendly items through its on site shop, restaurant and mail order department.
History
CAT was founded by businessman-turned-environmentalist Gerard Morgan-Grenville, and opened in 1973 in the disused Llwyngwernslate quarry near Machynlleth, where it occupies a seven-acre site. The organisation was originally known as the "British National Centre for the development of Alternative Technology". Inspiration for the early CAT pioneers included the then-recent books Small Is Beautiful, A Blueprint for Survival, and The Limits to Growth as well as an aim to explore alternative ways of living. CAT was previously aligned to the Urban Centre for Appropriate Technology, which was based in Bristol and has since evolved into the Centre for Sustainable Energy.
Visitor centre
In 1975 a permanent exhibition opened in order to generate wider interest. The site with of interactive displays is the largest tourist attraction in the area. It is open all-year except Christmas, seven days a week. It is a registered charity. The facilities and exhibits include:
Events, activities and courses take place throughout the year
Education
The Centre offers a range of courses which are between a day and a week in length. Some of these courses are offered to the general public while others are accredited courses for professional installers. CAT is involved with school education through training teachers, producing materials and offering special tours and materials on site. The Centre includes a Graduate School of the Environment. It offers postgraduate courses in renewable energy, architecture and environmental studies. The Centre has run a Professional Diploma in Architecture course in Advanced Environmental and Energy Studies, since 2008, which allows students to obtain an accredited Part II architectural qualification.
In summer 2010, CAT inaugurated the Wales Institute for Sustainable Education, a large educational building designed as a case study of sustainable architecture. The building contains a lecture theatre and accommodation and demonstrates ecological building principles such as passive solar building design and heat recovery ventilation as well as low-impact building materials such as wood, hemp, lime and rammed earth. The external walls of the building are made from 500mm thick hempcrete, whereas the lecture theatre has 7.2m high walls made from 320t of rammed earth. A building management system is used to monitor a wide variety of parameters inside the building, providing data for research projects by CAT's sustainable architecture students. The building is used for teaching postgraduate degrees and short courses and is also available as a conference venue and exhibition space. In 2010, the WISE building was awarded the first place in the Daily Telegraph's list of Top 10 Buildings 2010 and came 4th in The Guardian's Top 10list of buildings for 2010. It received a Royal Institute of British Architects Award in 2011.
Energy
CAT originally relied on a collection of water, wind and solar power, but following power shortages it began to receive power from the National Grid. Shortly afterwards, in 2004, a large new wind turbine was built using funds generated by selling shares in the project to the community, Bro Dyfi Community renewables. From 2009 September onwards CAT operates a microgrid system which includes elements of on- and off-grid operation. CAT gets its water from an existing man-made reservoir in the slatequarry on which it is based and processes its own sewage in its reedbeds.
Regional impact
The presence of the Centre in the Dyfi Valley has brought an increased environmental emphasis to the area, which is now designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. In the nearest town, Machynlleth, CAT plc formerly operated a wholefood vegetarian café and a separate shop. Following the closure of CAT plc, the CAT charity retained ownership of the vegetarian cafe but subsequently sold it to its workers. The cafe is now run as a private enterprise but continues to operate as a vegetarian cafe. The wholefood shop was closed, as the building was not owned by CAT; however, a new wholefood shop Dyfi Wholefoods was opened by the staff who were made redundant. An industrial estate near Machynlleth Railway Station houses the offices of Dulas Ltd, a renewable energy company started by ex-CAT employees.
