Eigg: ecovriendelijk eiland verstoort groene droom

Please spare a thought this morning - as you pop the kettle on, put some bread in the toaster and dither over whether to load the washing machine, do a spot of vacuuming, or soak in a hot bath - for the 87 residents of the very small Isle of Eigg in the Inner Hebrides. Because thanks to an energy shortage on what claims to be the 'world's greenest island', use of toasters, electric kettles, fat fryers, washing machines and 'pretty much anything with a heating element' that could drain Eigg's dwindling electricity supply is strictly rationed until further notice.

So how have the locals dealt with this blow to their eco dream? Well, what would be bound to cause extreme consternation in London, Manchester or Glasgow doesn't seem to bother the residents of Eigg.

They're far too busy planning other eco projects, such as an electric community bus, an eco house for volunteers, producing biodiesel from old chip oil and growing vegetables in polytunnels.

Indeed, they're still marvelling at, what is to them, the modern wonder and pleasing novelty of having mains electricity delivered to their whitewashed croft houses. For this island only got a regular electricity supply in February 2008. They're hardly going to worry about a few weeks of cold tea while it doesn't work.