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Green Energy Options
Not all of us have the luxury of living in parts of the UK where gas is easily available. While it is true that gas is currently the most efficient and cheapest form of energy for heating the home, many of us rely on electricity and perhaps supplement this with oil. For these people choosing the right energy supplier is crucial, both in terms of getting the best deal financially, but also for making sure that carbon emissions are kept to a minimum.
Electrical heaters such as radiators are a great alternative or additional source of heating for most homes and if you happen to be on a green tariff with your energy supplier you will also be helping with reducing carbon emissions. It is a win win situation. So what green energy tariffs are available and how do you ensure that yours is truly green and worth the extra effort?
How does it work?
Green energy suppliers purchase energy which is carbon free or carbon neutral and sell it on to their customers using a green tariff. Examples of this energy may be wind turbines, solar power, hydroelectric, biomass or nuclear. In the UK these sources of electricity account for around 7% of all available energy, but this figure is steadily rising. The government is also behind this move towards renewable forms of energy and has set a target of 30% of the UK's electricity needs coming from renewable sources by 2020.
Energy companies need to adhere to the Green Energy Supply Certification Scheme which is designed to ensure that customers are not being mis-sold when it comes to greener energy options. This means that the tariffs are independently checked and that they meet green energy supply guidelines as laid out by Ofgem. They must also show that they have purchased enough renewable energy to supply all of their green tariff customers.
Energy suppliers can meet the Ofgem guidelines by also either off-setting their own carbon production, providing energy saving measures for their customers such as insulation or investing into a green fund used on community buildings.
The down side
This all sounds great, but it is worth noting that while the energy supplier may be selling renewable energy to you, they could be reducing the amount which is available to other customers at the same time. The overall mix of energy does not change.
The energy companies are expected to produce a certain percentage of energy from renewable sources, however some will agree to do more than this and sell it at a special "renewable" rate to their green customers. In the UK there are no suppliers who provide 100% green electricity. There is no guarantee that your electricity will come from a renewable source, but simply that your supplier is buying in the required percentage to cover your needs www.greenancial.com .
Still worthwhile?
It is true that going for a green tariff doesn't mean you will only buy renewable energy - but it certainly shows willing. If more UK energy users decided to sign up to green tariffs, the renewable industry would be in a position to offer more of this technology. If you decide to use electricity as your primary source of heating for your home, opting for a green tariff is just one of the steps you can take to keep your carbon footprint as low as possible.