We are now in a position to be able to choose our energy supplier and there is a growing demand for green energy suppliers from individual households and businesses. With concern increasing over climate change and the impact that we have on the environment, a growing number of people are choosing to pursue a more ethical and environmentally friendly lifestyle. One of the ways to do this is through our choice of electricity and gas supplier.
Listed below are just a few examples of suppliers that claim to offer a more environmentally friendly way of generating energy.
Ebico
Ebico was founded in 1998 and is a not-for-profit gas and electricity supplier with over 50,000 UK homes as customers already. The company is based on the principle that everyone should be charged the same for their utilities. Ebico pride themselves on having a fair energy pricing system with simple, transparent and straightforward tariff structures. With their focus on fuel poverty (4 million households struggle against fuel poverty), they market themselves as a fuel provider that works to avoid market pressures and works towards social equality. To achieve this they have a single flat rate system on all tariffs and there is no standing charge.
EquiGas was the first of their products, which was set up in 1999, to deliver lower prices on gas supplies. EquiPower followed EquiGas in 2002 and is a domestic electricity tariff offering a competitive and fair pricing structure. EquiClimate is the most recent service established by Ebico and it provides the opportunity for customers to offset their carbon emissions by using the new European market in CO2.
Overall, Ebico provides an effective and resourceful means for households to reduce their energy bills and make a positive contribution to the mitigation against climate change. For further information visit the Ebico website [1].
Ecotricity
Ecotricity was established in 1996, which makes it the world’s first green electricity company. Ecotricity are so dedicated to changing the way electricity is made that they take the money customers pay for their electricity and put it towards the investment of clean forms of power such as wind energy and solar power. For example, in 2007 Ecotricity invested £25 million in wind energy. So far they have established 35 wind parks, 117 wind turbines, have 33,351 households as customers and have saved 370,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.
Ecotricity have also supplied the UK’s first green gas tariff and like having wind turbines they have established gas mills. If you visit their website, it is evident that they have a significant following. They are recommended by the Soil Association, Oxfam, Christian Aid and Ecover and have Lush and the Co-operative Bank as customers.
Their website makes it very easy to compare your current energy bills with Ecotricity ones, by just typing your postcode into their quote system. For further information visit the Ecotricity website [2].
first:utility
first:utility are the first UK energy company to install free smart meters in UK households. A smart meter is a digital device, which produces an accurate reading of energy consumption, therefore putting an end to the need for meter readings and estimated bills. They allow customers to regulate their energy consumption and control it, so they only pay for what they actually want to use. The government set a target in May 2009, to have smart meters in all homes by 2020, but first:utility are already installing their own meters across the Midlands and the rest of the country throughout 2010. They also supply 2,000 businesses.
first:utility promotes accurate transparent billing, which allows customers to effectively reduce their carbon footprint. For further information visit the first:utility website [3].
Green Energy
Green Energy is an energy company that promotes the message that they like their customers to be more than just customers. Through their unique share scheme, every customer is entitled to 400 shares and the first 100,000 customers are given the option of receiving fully paid up shares in the company.
Green Energy’s aim is to increase the use of green energy and to minimise the use of energy where possible. They use 100% renewable energy and source the energy from a wide range of renewable and green technologies. They will also buy electricity from anyone who generates their own electricity and has a surplus, thereby ensuring that there is as little waste as possible of generated energy. For further information visit the Green Energy website [4].
The companies above provide a good selection of green energy companies and there is something for everyone, whether you are a single household or a large business. It is very easy to switch energy provider. A lot of the companies allow you to do it on their own website with an online system. You can also visit Fuel Switch [5], which provides un-biased information and advice on switching your energy supplier.
[1] Ebico – www.ebico.co.uk
[2] Ecotricity – www.ecotricity.co.uk
[3] first:utility – www.first-utility.com
[4] Green Energy – www.greenenergy.uk.com
[5] Fuel Switch – www.fuelswitch.com
