Green Tariffs
Conventional forms of electricity production generate emissions such as sulphur dioxide and carbon dioxide. The release of these pollutants into the atmosphere makes a serious contribution to climate change, while also contributing to other environmental problems such as acid rain.
’Green energy’ is produced from renewable or sustainable sources and produces minimal environmental impacts in comparison. Examples include energy generated by wind and wave power, solar energy, biomass energy and hydropower. There are also ‘waste to energy’ projects, which can be considered renewable because a large proportion of the energy is derived from biomass (or plant material).
Most energy companies now offer a ‘green electricity tariff’. These could include:
- A guarantee from an energy supplier to buy, from a renewable generator, a percentage of ‘green’ electricity to match every unit of electricity used by the consumer.
- A ‘green fund’ tariff, designed to support the construction of new renewable sources of electricity generation, environmental causes or new research and development projects.
- A ‘carbon offset’ tariff, to help reduce or offset the carbon dioxide emissions produced by an average household (e.g by planting trees or investing in projects in the developing world).
Click on the link below for further information on choosing a green or cheaper energy supplier:
www.energywatch.org.uk
Renewable Micro generation
Micro generation, or Micro power, is the production of energy on the smallest of scales for individual buildings or communities.
Micro power technologies emit low amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) – or in some cases, no CO2 at all – while allowing consumers to generate their own heat and/or electricity.
Micro generation comes in various forms.
There are two categories of solar powered technologies; photovoltaic (PV) systems that produce electricity, and solar thermal systems, that provide hot water and sometimes space heating.
Ground Source Heat Pumps use energy stored in the ground for space heating and micro-Combined Heat and Power (micro-CHP) systems are similar to gas boilers but provide electricity as well as heat. Micro turbines provide electricity, either powered by the wind or naturally flowing water, while the latest development is the roof or wall mounted wind turbine.
The Home Energy Office can offer advice on the types of financial support available through the governments Feed-In Tariff and Renewable Heat Incentive programmes, which provides finance for technologies that produce renewable electricity or heat. It can also provide details of recommended installers and contractors.
Click the links below for further information on micro power
www.micropower.co.uk
www.decc.gov.uk
