Renewable Energy Resources

There are many sources of alternative energy including solar power energy wind energy and clean hydro energy that powers electricity as a real green renewable source in place of traditional sources such as coal, gas or even nuclear power. Although this is not a real mandate for energy efficiency because that's about reducing overall consumption, switching to these types of fuels reduces the CO2 emmissions that are produced from any home or business.

Choosing Green Energy for Your Home

The great news from the UK and certainly around the world is that there are many grants help and resources you can use to benefit you. And even the big names on the high street are getting in on the action with supermarkets such as Sainsburys and Tesco selling solar panels that you can install in your home to generate your own electricity which you can use. You'll also benefit from what is now called feed in tariffs where you will be paid an amount for each unit of electricity you produce no matter if you use it or sell it back to the national grid. And if you do sell it back you'll get an additional incentive on top of this.

Of course you can purchase solar panels and mini wind turbines from some of the energy companies now and this is likely to increase and competition intensify as more people want to invest in alternative energy and more companies want to offer these technologies and resources around the UK. There is plenty to choose from and although the pay back on investment are small at least you will know that all your energy is being produced from wind or the sun for electricity in any case. More technologies are coming on board for true alternative gas fuels (as really all the green sources currently are for electric power).

Green Electricity Energy Tariffs

If you don't want to install your own equipment on your house (because in general it's not something you can take with you if you have to move and the costs are currently still quite high) you can choose to get green renewable energy tariffs from the big energy companies in two types.

The first and currently the most expensive is to opt for a true 100% renewable energy contract where the electricity provided only comes directly from green renewable sources such as those resources we have discussed above. Many new green energy companies are investing in their own wind farm technology and well as water hydro power and these are being purchased or run directly by the energy providers. These contracts called "green" or other combinations have a premium even over the standard tariffs although it not as much as if you installed your own solar panels.

The other type is where the amount of energy you consumer from traditional sources is matched with the purchase of renewable energy by the company supplying you. This is not a true green tariff as you are still being supplied with old fuels but at least it is being matched on your behalf. Whatever type of tariff your choose at least you know you are doing at least something for the environment and reducing the UK's overall CO2 emissions.