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[[Image:solar phonebox.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Visitors using solar powered phonebooth]]
This Centre for Alternative Technology aims to show people how to live in a sustainable manner, in rural as well as in fully developed, urban areas. The centre focuses on renewable energy, environmental building, energy efficiency, organic growing and alternative sewage systems. The centre has a range of interactive displays and other exhibits of sustainable technologies in these fields.
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CAT is used for day visits by individuals or groups such as schools. They also run educational programmes ranging from one week upto a year long for people who want to learn more about sustainable development and other topics. They also publish books on these topics for example recently published: “Choosing Solar Electricity: a guide to photovoltaic systems”
Throughout the year they organize activities, tours, as well as other events for visitors. They also run an information centre, which people can consult for free advice on sustainable living and a consultancy service for business or bigger projects.
====Water management====
====Wind Power====
There are a range of wind turbines in the CAT’s wind pavilion, each with a different capacity. Ranging from those suitable to charge vehicle batteries to those used to power hundreds of homes. Many of the appliances in the eco-cabins at the centre, run on energy from their wind generator. The CAT’s initiative also encouraged the building of two large turbines outside the centre, used by the community surrounding.
The Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) (Welsh: Canolfan y Dechnoleg Amgen) 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 Llwyngwern slate quarry near Machynlleth (once served by the narrow-gauge Corris Railway), where it occupies a seven-acre (28,000 m²) site. The organisation was originally known as the "National Centre for Alternative Technology".
CAT was previously aligned to the Urban Centre for Appropriate Technology (UCAT), 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 40-acre (160,000 m2) site with 7 acres (28,000 m2) 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.[2]
The facilities and exhibits include:
* the water-balanced CAT Funicular, the Centre for Alternative Technology Railway
* solar, hydropower and wind power
* a low-energy house
* a site-wide electricity grid powered by renewable energy
* displays of organic gardening methods
* a hydraulic ram pump
* strawbale and rammed earth buildings
* Britain's largest green bookshop
* Vegetarian/ vegan restaurant
* Events, activities and courses take place throughout the year and are advertised on the website and through Facebook and Twitter.
==References and External Links==
* [http://www.cat.org.uk/ Website CAT Wales]