Public awareness of environmental concerns is at its height today. So much so in fact that things like CFC-heavy spray cans and energy-gobbling light bulbs are thankfully receding into that embarrassing, uncaring past. Though there are plenty of stragglers in this country, generally speaking there is a sense that at least we are all aware that we can buy long-lasting, low-energy bulbs; low-water consumption appliances; and environmentally friendly washing detergents – even if not all of us choose to buy them.
However, there is still an area of relative ignorance for many consumers in that area where we do the most damage to the environment: the actual energy that we use and where it comes from. Of course, knowledge of the possibility of shifting to one of the so-called ‘green tariffs’ has slowly but surely increased over the years – but it has generally been assumed that cheap electricity and cheap gas were non-concomitant with environmental friendliness. However, where once a clean conscience came with a slightly hefty price tag, these days it’s much easier and cheaper to make your energy supply that bit more ‘green’.
For example British Gas will match the energy that you are using, and extract it from renewable sources, which is then supplied back to the National Grid, and in turn into people’s home. Et voila! – a nice, full circle that means that the more people shift to such a system, the more green energy from renewable sources, will be coming into our homes.
It’s very simple, and designed to grow completely independently of policy. Plus, they will add a nominal amount to your bill – a couple of pounds per month – that will go towards research and development of green solutions in the future. Which is heartening.
So, it’s still worth persisting with the more mundane changes that you can make around your house – switching to a more energy efficient boiler, for example – because there is still a vast amount of improvements to be made nationwide. However, it’s also far cheaper and incredibly productive in the future, to make sure that your energy supply is coming from as green a place as is possible.
