CAT – Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales

CAT – The Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales is at the forefront of sustainable building in the UK.

The Centre for Alternative Technology or CAT in Wales was founded in 1973 on the site of the disused Llwyngwern slate quarry near Machynlleth, in Mid Wales. It is now a world-renowned education and visitor centre which demonstrates practical solutions for sustainability. They cover all aspects of green living: environmental building, eco-sanitation, woodland management, renewable energy, energy efficiency and organic growing.

CAT addresses every aspect of the average lifestyle – renewable energy, environmental building, energy efficiency, organic growing and alternative sewage systems. The Visitor Centre has interactive displays show global issues such as energy generation and transport, and practical, everyday solutions for everyone. They run a range of residential courses – from weekends to a yearlong MSc.

Written by Herbert Gruber

Herbert is author of the book "Neues Bauen mit Stroh" (New Building with Straw), head of the austrian strawbale network ASBN and partner in the Leonardo-project "Strawbale Training for European Professionals (STEP). As a collector he documents European straw bale buildings since 1999 on his website (database, german), in lectures, workshops and books.

Website: http://www.baubiologie.at