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We all like the thought of living our lives in an environmentally friendly but many of us are not prepared to give up with our life comforts or pay more money for the benefits. Many government schemes have emphasised the importance of reducing carbon emissions and controlling climate change. Many companies have supported these ideas and have used the "Green" concept as a selling feature. Energy consumption is a household's main thing apart from car use that produces the most carbon emissions. The top energy suppliers in the UK have started offering Green energy options to reduce a household's carbon emissions. What is Green Energy? Green energy is power that is from renewable or clean resources. The main forms of renewable energy in the UK are wind, hydroelectric, solar, geothermal and biofuels. Wind energy is made in on shore and off shore wind farms and can produce up to five megawatts of power. It is the cleanest and safest of the renewable energies and although only contributes to 5% of Britain's energy source; it is due to have an annual 30% increase. Hydroelectric power is made by water surges going through turbines and generators. It only supplies 2% of Britain's energy but there are still some untapped resources in the UK. Solar energy is the easiest for a household to do themselves by putting a solar panel on their roof to create hot water. There are also solar electric panels that collect the radiation from the sun and turn it into electricity. Geothermal is energy that has been generated from beneath the earth surface, there is a very small percentage of the world uses geothermal energy. Biofuel is made up from living organisms or metabolic by products often from organic or food waste. It can only be considered a biofuel if made up from 80% renewable materials. Gas is not considered to be green as it is not renewable. What are the Green Options for Energy Supplies? Electricity supplies come from various sources around the UK which may influence the green options available to you. There are three different options of greener energy supplies that the suppliers may offer to you. Energy Match is when the supplier will match some or all of the electricity you use with the equivalent of green energy. Green Fund is when the supplier will invest into research and development of renewable energy; like the construction of a wind farm. Carbon Offset is when the carbon emissions of a household will be offset by planting trees or investing into CO2 reducing projects. This will include making gas use seem more environmentally friendly. What do the Energy Suppliers Offer? British Gas British Gas offers two options for greener energy. "Be Greener with Future Energy" will match electricity used with electricity from renewable sources. Support and development of renewable sources and education for green energy will also be done. This has green sourced electricity but is not carbon offsetting. The second option is "Be Greener with Zero Carbon" it is the first dual fuel energy tariff that leave no carbon footprint. This package in green sourced and carbon offsetting. These packages may be a bit more than the usual gas and electricity tariffs but British Gas are proud to say that they are the "Greenest energy tariff on the domestic market." Sign up to paperless billing with British Gas and receive 4 energy saving light bulbs for that bit extra of green living. British Gas also has plans for the greener future, with £750 million invested in sustainable energy, 6 off shore wind farms and looking in biofuel potential in the UK. npower The green package by npower is Juice which uses 100% renewable energy and invests in green developments. 500,000 households have already made the switch to Juice as there is no extra cost from their existing electricity package with no premiums. The energy source that supplies Juice is mainly from wind farms and £10 annually is contributed to green projects from everyone that stays with Juice. npower also helps you if you want to set up a solar panel in your home and they will even buy back the excess electricity that you may produce. E.ON E.ON (formally known as Powergen) has Go Green and Dual fuel options. The tariff will match the electricity usage with renewable source and offset the carbon emissions from the gas. The tariff will also help with energy efficient products. There is a 100% renewable energy option where the electricity comes from 100% renewable sources and the gas is offset with climate care projects. E.ON also sells energy saving products to their Go Green customers and currently has the largest off shore wind farm in the UK.
Staff editor, Gas & Electricity Section, December 2007 |
