Switch to a green energy supplier
By switching your domestic energy supply to a green tariff, you can reduce your carbon footprint.
A green tariff means that some or all of the electricity you buy is ‘matched’ by purchases of renewable energy that your supplier makes on your behalf. These could come from a variety of renewable energy sources such as wind farms and hydroelectric power stations. Some green supply tariffs are also nuclear-free.
Switching energy supplier is much easier than you think, and can save you money. Although many people think green energy tariffs are more expensive, this is often not the case.
The OFGEM website provides a useful step-by-step guide for switching suppliers, including some accredited price comparison websites. Many of the websites allow you to filter so you can compare green energy deals only.
Alternatively there are specific websites such as Big clean switch.org that only compare green energy options.
To ensure you are getting the environmentally friendly energy you hoped for, we recommend reading carefully to find out exactly what the tariff includes. To offer a green tariff, a supplier has various ways of ‘matching’ the energy you use from the National Grid with green energy.
- Some suppliers generate their own renewable energy and/or buy energy directly from renewable energy generators. Examples include Good Energy, Ecotricity and Green Energy UK.
- Other suppliers – even those that claim to offer 100% renewable electricity – buy certificates that are issued when renewable electricity is generated without buying the green energy itself. The same applies to green gas.
To find out more: