Green Energy Guide

green energy is defined as energy that is produced with little to no environmentally damaging by-products such as hazardous waste, carbon dioxide emissions and other pollution. It is also referred to as alternative energy because it provides a safe alternative to the methods previously used to produce energy such as burning coal, gas or oil or using nuclear technology.

green energy has 3 main advantages over traditional forms of energy. There are no damaging by-products to harm the environment, it is a low-cost solution for generating power and linked with this there is a cost advantage for consumers.

Burning coal to produce power results in high emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulphur dioxide. These are all harmful to the environment. Nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide produce acid rain, causing pollution. Dangerous metals such as mercury and lead escape into the air when coal is burnt, leading ultimately to their appearance in the food chain. Burning coal also emits particles which cause air pollution and health difficulties.

Producing electricity using coal or gas-fuelled power stations is costly. Regulating nuclear fuel supplies and waste from nuclear power stations also comes at a very high price. The costs continue to rise because, with increased awareness of the environmental impact of fossil fuels, power companies are endeavouring to reduce emissions from traditional energy production. This is also costly. We all pay for these costs through our energy bills.

green energy sources provide a far lower cost solution to energy production. The cost is lower, whether you generate green energy yourself or rely upon green energy supplied by a power company, because you only pay for the materials used to construct the power source. No fuel is required besides naturally occurring sources such as wind and sunlight.

Some people have been put off renewable energy for fear that it may be unreliable. Electricity supply from a green energy company will be just as reliable as one supplying energy generated from fossil fuels. There are a huge number of different types of renewable energy available to balance out supply and demand, and the technology to store generated power is improving all the time.

In the past, green energy has been more expensive but this is no longer the case. Many very competitive green energy tariffs are now available.

Many UK electricity companies and energy providers now provide green energy plans. The proportion of energy produced from renewable sources will vary from company to company, with some now offering 100% renewable options and others committed to providing low carbon emissions if the energy they provide is not 100% renewable.

You can find green electricity providers here on our site by entering your postcode. Your results can be filtered to show only green energy plans. If you wish to see the proportion of energy produced from each method by an electricity company, check their website. They are required to publish this information.

green energy is suitable for business and switching your tariff may even save your business money. For energy which is not green, such as natural gas, a green energy company will provide a carbon offset, thereby reducing the impact on the environment. Businesses may also wish to look at generating a proportion of their own electricity through the renewable methods available.