Only a few years ago the customers trying to approach an eco-friendly lifestyle had no choice as to which type of electricity to use in their households. Today the landscape has changed dramatically with the Government-introduced FITs allowing us to generate our own green electricity and renewable energy companies offering green electricity plans straight through the national grid.
Although the European Union has set strict deadlines for switching to renewable energy sources, the big energy companies don’t seem to be too keen to adapt the new technologies. Although some of them are actually investing in wind farms and other technologies, we’re still pretty much relying on coal and oil, thus making our carbon footprint big and black.
100% Green
Apart from the mainstream energy companies, called the Big Six in the UK, there are a few young renewable energy companies offering 100% green energy. There are three large companies actively investing money into wind farms and solar installations – Good Energy Company, Ecotricity and RES. Some of the Big Six also invest in building their own green energy sources, for example British Gas has already pumped well over billion pounds in building wind farms, and EDF is also involved in similar projects. However, it will probably take decades before we can call them green.
The way it works with the renewable energy companies is that the green power generated is pooled directly into the national grid. So, technically you’re not directly tapped into the wind generator’s output. That would be hard to achieve and very, very expensive. Many customers feel apprehensive about this. If you look at this matter from the national perspective, your resolution to switch to a greener energy source has a very direct and tangible effect. Your move reduces the country’s carbon footprint by a couple of tons of CO2 every year and sends a message to the large suppliers.
An Opportunity to Save Money
As it is with all things eco, green energy is still slightly more expensive than the traditional coal electricity. There is still a possibility to save money by switching to renewable energy companies – I bet you’re still on an old tariff and if you just switch to one of the renewable energy companies instead of haggling with the current energy supplier to move you to a cheaper tariff, you’ll still see actual savings.
And there is one very important thing to keep in mind. The prices of renewable energy companies have a tendency of going down – something that you cannot say about the Big Six – they just keep hiking the prices without any good reason. As the eco-friendly technology, such as wind generators and water mills, gets cheaper and more efficient, the electricity price drops.
How To Switch?
UK is officially the windiest country of the whole Europe and we are still yet to realise this potential. In fact, we’re getting 40% of the Europe’s wind resource and it is expected that the number of wind farms in the UK will rise considerably within the next few years. Another undeservedly forgotten source is water. For example, Good Energy Company buys 17% of their green electricity from small privately owned hydro generators and even from an experimental onshore ocean wave generator.
Switching is easy as 123. You don’t have to change the cables or take on new equipment. All it takes is a short phone call and you get connected to a green energy source seamlessly within a couple of weeks.
