Your Energy Guide
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GREEN ENERGY
There have been a number of television adverts and news stories on ‘going green’ to reduce your carbon footprint.
Opting for ‘green energy’ is just one of the many ways to do just that.
WHY SHOULD I GO GREEN?
Ongoing warnings of global warming being a constant threat to the planet, together with the irreparable damage we cause to the environment on a daily basis can seem quite alarming.
Already we can see the impact, with sea levels rising and towns being flooded, as our UK summers last for days and as our winters last for months, we notice a significant change to the planet.
By using ‘green energy,’ the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) being released into the atmosphere can be reduced.
The major culprit to global warming is fuel emissions such as CO2 which is produced though the burning of fossil fuels.
These fossil fuels- coal, oil and natural gas produce large amounts of CO2, with the biggest contributor of emissions being from the production of electricity.
And with supplies of fossil fuels falling rapidly, the need to find other ways to produce energy is ever-increasing.
Renewable, or ‘green’ energy is one alternative to produce environmentally friendly energy. Renewable energy is generated though wind, solar, water power (hydroelectricity) and biomass which does not damage the atmosphere.
For example, solar panels placed on the roofs of homes to generate enough energy to power all electrical items within the household.
So by using renewable energy, not only will you be reducing your carbon footprint, but you will also be reducing the dependence on oil and coal reserves.
HOW DO I GO GREEN?
Homeowners are beginning to understand even more of the importance of being environmentally friendly as they seek ways to reduce their carbon footprint.
A number of electricity providers are also introducing environmentally friendly tariffs or plans to urge homeowners to go ‘green,’ while the Government aims to have 10 per cent of the UK’s electricity coming from renewable energy sources by 2010.
There are a number of options for green energy tariffs which can be chosen to suit your specific requirements.
- Green Power Supply - This is one ‘green tariff’ supplied by some electricity providers. It ensures that green electricity is generated for every unit of electricity the homeowner uses per day.
- Green Fund - This is another ‘green tariff’ where the provider uses the extra amount paid onto the bill to invest into renewable energy projects.
- Carbon offset - Trees are planted or investments are made for projects in reducing CO2 emissions from the offsets of the CO2 emissions produces from the energy you use.
Scottish Power and Powergen are just two of the many suppliers offering homeowners ‘green’ energy.
WHAT IS THE COST OF GOING ‘GREEN’?
By signing up to a green electricity tariff, homeowners would be supporting green energy sources in the UK.
However, some energy plans do come at a price, although the money you spend on going green will be used to fund renewable projects depending on the chosen tariff.
With Only Finance, you can find the right plan to suit your household.