If you want to go directly to another section of our green energy guide, you can click on one of the links below:
There are four main types of renewable or ‘green’ energy – solar, wind, hydroelectric and biomass:

Solar – converts the sun’s energy into electricity and heat. According to Friends of the Earth, covering 1% of the Sahara desert with solar thermal mirror arrays could generate all current global electricity demand.
Wind – electricity from wind energy. The UK has, in the form of wind power, the largest renewable energy resource in Europe.
Hydroelectric – Energy in flowing water is harnessed.
Biomass – Natural materials burnt to provide energy.
Many electricity companies are now offering ‘green tariffs’. Generally these come in two types:

A Green Power Supply – The electricity supplier ensures that for every unit of electricity you use, the same amount of green electricity is generated.
A Green Fund – Where the electricity company takes the extra you pay on your bill and invests the money into renewable energy projects.
It is extremely easy to switch to a green energy tariff and there is generally no need for any work to be done to your home. You can also pay by monthly direct debit which will further cut gas and electricity prices.

Why is green energy a good idea?
Global warming is a constant threat to our environment and considered a contributory factor in many freak weather conditions. Electricity production is the biggest contributor to the emissions that cause climate change.

The prime gas responsible for global warming is CO2. Burning fossil fuels – coal, oil and natural gas - produces a large amount of this gas and supplies of fossil fuels are rapidly decreasing. There is an ever-increasing need to find alternatives.

One alternative to fossil fuels is nuclear power, however this has met with wide protests from campaigners who believe that a nuclear reactor can produce radioactive waste with a ‘lifespan’ of thousands of years. There are also by-products that could potentially do harm to the environment.

Renewable energy is the environmentally friendly alternative. It has no by-products that could harm the atmosphere and comes from everlasting sources such as wind and water. There is little to no waste, and consequently more and more people are seeing renewable energy as a legitimate alternative.

So what can I do?
By switching to green energy you are likely to be spending more money. However, you will also be making a statement that you support renewable energy. If enough people make the switch then this could help to convince the Government to offer support to the industry.

As of 01 October 2005, UK electricity suppliers must provide information on carbon dioxide emissions and high-level nuclear waste produced. You can find out all the information you need at electricityinfo.org by clicking on this link:

As of 01 April 2004, energy suppliers have had to make sure that at least 4.9% of all energy they provide comes from renewable sources.

However, many companies have still not reached this target. This has led to them buying certificates from smaller companies who only offer a green tariff or companies whose green tariff surpasses the 4.9% target.

This does not increase the demand for renewable energy as total demand is matched across the board. Only green energy-based companies can do this by refusing to sell their certificates to increase demand.

Green energy suppliers
Let’s take a look at the companies that only offer a green tariff:

Good Energy – Supplies 100% renewable electricity. For every unit of electricity used by a consumer Good Energy promises to supply the national grid with a unit of electricity from renewable power sources.
Green Energy 100 – For every unit of electricity the consumer buys, Green Energy 100 buys one unit of green electricity. Green Energy 100 also invests 50% of profits into green electricity generation.
Ecotricity – For every unity of electricity the consumer buys, it supplies 0.1 units of green electricity – increasing by 10%/year – but also invests in wind farms.
In addition, npower offers the Juice ‘clean and green’ service which supplies one unit of green electricity for every unit of electricity you buy.

Scottish Power also has a ‘Green Energy Fund’, which invests up to £15.75/year/customer in green energy schemes, which is matched by the company.

Powergen offers GreenPlan in which they guarantee to match every unit of electricity supplied to GreenPlan customers with one from a renewable source and London Energy pledges to match the electricity you use with electricity from renewable sources with their Green Tariff