Green energy

Green energy is generally defined as electricity derived from renewable or clean resources such as hydro energy, wind energy, solar energy, geothermal energy and bio fuels. Gas cannot be classed as green energy as it is a non-renewable resource, while the inclusion or exclusion of nuclear power remains open for debate.

The majority of electricity supplied to the National Grid is currently produced by burning non-renewable fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas and petroleum, as well as through the generation of nuclear power, derived from the non-renewable resource uranium.

As the electricity supplied to the National Grid comes from a mixture of sources it is impossible to determine whether the electricity supplied to your home is from a green source or not. As a result, green energy plans differ from supplier to supplier with most offering one or more of the following options:

• Energy match: The supplier will match all, or part, of your electricity unit consumption with an equivalent amount of green energy, supplied directly into the National Grid.
• Green fund: The supplier will invest in research and development into renewable energy projects, or into the construction of renewable energy sources, such as wind farms.
• Carbon offset: The supplier will offset your household’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by planting trees or investing in other CO2-reducing projects in the UK or developing countries.

Every purchasing decision we make has an impact on the environment. By choosing a green energy plan, often at no extra cost to the standard energy plans offered by most suppliers, you can reduce your own impact while promoting renewable energy sources. The more consumers choose to switch away from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy, the more mainstream and accessible green energy will become.

Indeed switching to green energy has become so popular that many suppliers also offer green dual-fuel plans in which the electricity component is delivered in-line with the supplier’s preferred green strategy, while carbon offsets are offered to balance gas consumption.

Of course, the best environmental choice you can make is to reduce the amount of energy you use and save wasting energy unnecessarily, however it’s generated. Switching to your supplier’s green alternative, is better for the environment and your conscience. As always, you should check if you’re with the best value provider.

The market for green energy is growing all the time. The big six energy suppliers have introduced green tariffs, and new companies such as Ecotricity and Good Energy have been set up specifically to help combat climate change. Our impartial switching service will help you find the best green energy deals in your area.

Switch to clean, safe, green energy by using uSwitch's calculator. Just type in your details and we’ll show you the green plans available in your area, listed alphabetically. It only takes a few minutes for you to start the ball rolling on our secure site. We manage the whole switching process with your new supplier. Use our impartial comparison and switching service to find your best green energy supplier today.