Energy efficiency
The most effective way of reducing your energy-related greenhouse gas emissions is to use less energy in the first place. For advice on how to do this, visit:
Energy
Saving Trust - a non-profit organisation, working with households,
business and the public sector to encourage a more efficient use of
energy, stimulate the demand and supply of cleaner fuelled vehicles,
and promote the use of small-scale renewable energy sources, such as
solar and wind.
Carbon
Trust - an independent company funded by Government, helping the
UK move to a low carbon economy by helping business and the public sector
reduce carbon emissions now and capture the commercial opportunities
of low carbon technologies.
Green electricity suppliers
The next thing you can do is switch to a 'green' electricity tariff, which effectively means that your supplier ensures that the same amount of electricity is put back into the National Grid from renewable sources as you take out to power your home.
The following suppliers were found to be greenest by Friends of the Earth and Ethical Consumer magazine in 2004:
Ecotricity
Good
Energy
Green
Energy
Ecotricity was rated highest by The Ecologist in 2005:
Green
electricity... Are you being conned?
And Good Energy is top-rated in this analysis by the National Consumer Council in 2006:
Reality
or rhetoric? Green tariffs for domestic customers
Though Ecotricity are challenging the findings of the NCC report:
Response
from Ecotricity to the NCC report (PDF, 90 KB)
Green gas suppliers
Unlike electricity, it is not possible to purchase gas from non-fossil fuel sources, such as from landfill sites or from anaerobic digestion of biodegradable waste.
In 2007, Ethical Consumer magazine reviewed gas suppliers, looking at positive criteria such as which companies encourage their customers to reduce consumption, have policies to tackle fuel poverty, or offer carbon offsetting schemes, and negative criteria such as which companies invest in nuclear or coal-fired power stations to generate electricity. The two best-rated suppliers were:
Generating renewable electricity
Once you've reduced the amount of energy you use and switched to a green supplier, you can always start generating your own electricity. For advice on the various options available, visit:
And for information on grants, visit:
Low
Carbon Buildings Programme
The following are some examples of companies that supply renewable energy solutions:
Solar:
Energy
& Environment Ltd - wide range of eco-products, including solar
battery & phone chargers, based in Chorlton
Filsol
Solar - solar water heating & photovoltaics
Solartwin
- solar water heating systems
Solarcentury
- solar photovoltaics
Sol
Heat - solar thermal installer based in Stockport
Wind:
Iskra -
grid connected wind turbine systems
Renewable
Devices - roof-mounted wind turbines
Windsave -
roof-mounted wind turbines
Other
GreenChoices -
the UK's guide to greener living
Green
Prices - information about green electricity, energy prices and
renewable energy markets in Europe
Embrace
the Revolution - giving a voice to the silent majority who support
wind energy
Friends
of the Earth's climate campaign
I
Count - a broad coalition of groups working together to stop climate
chaos
Manchester
Climate Forum - a 'clean space' for discussion and planning, where
all groups get equal time
RealClimate -
information on climate science from climate scientists
The
Big Ask
- pressing the Government to set legally binding targets to cut greenhouse
gas emissions
Yes2Wind -
how to say yes to wind energy in your area