Switch To Good (Green Or Socially Resonsible) Energy
Change energy suppliers to a more environmentally or socially responsible one. Changing suppliers is easy these days – what’s more difficult is deciding which one to change to.
Fortunately help is at hand from those nice people at Friends of the Earth, who have rated and explained some of the complexities of green energy and marked the different suppliers’ greenness.
If you are looking for social responsibilty in your energy buying, we recommend Equipower – after all, it’s founder Phil Levermore was one of our original Generous members.
Equipower attempts to right the hidden social injustice perpetuated by many suppliers who charge low-income users – generally those on PrePaid Meters – more for their energy than those on higher incomes, who generally pay by direct debit. Equipower charges all customers the same price for their energy – no discounts are offered for direct debit payments and higher rates are not charged to those using prepaid meters. So how about sacrificing your direct debit savings and helping keep someone else warm this winter.
Join the fray by signing in.
Godalming, GB , 21 Aug 2005
We went on a tour of a hydro-electric power station while in Scotland, which was very interesting, and I like the idea of green energy, however, after discussing it with hubby I’m wondering how the so-called green tarif works.
As far as we can gather all “green” electricity currently being made is already in the system so opting for a green tarif does not increase the amount of “green” electricity available, so I am wondering what the benefit of the green tarif actually is. Can anyone please explain?
GB , 21 Aug 2005
karin – you should talk to phil levermore at Gb who will have a stand in the generous network -ebico provides just and now green gas and electricity and phil knows ALOT on this issue!
Godalming, GB , 22 Aug 2005
Yes, I’m hoping we’ll both get the chance to talk to him. I hope he’ll have some good answers, because hubby is bound to have some good questions.
24 Aug 2005
I went with Equipower last year because of YOLG. It’s a good thing.
Godalming, GB , 31 Aug 2005
I managed to hear what Phil had to say on Sunday afternoon and was interested in what he said about the “green” side of his business and the idea of buying part of the carbon emmissions quota. The explanation of why he felt there was a reason for a fairer energy company was interesting, too as he went into a fair bit of detail about how the system usually works for those who are on a low income.
We didn’t chat to him as hubby didn’t stay around and I don’t really need much convincing. I picked up the literature with the tarrifs and other info, though.
04 Oct 2005
(Actually we changed over to Good Energy some time ago – so putting my name here represents yesterday’s stab at living generously – but I still enjoy a warm green glow of satisfaction)
Karin, I think the point is that we’re demonstrating a consumer demand for green energy.
But now that 100% of my electricity is from renewable sources, I’m not sure what good I’m doing by turning lights off etc! Maybe I’m saving someone else’s carbon emissions? Confusing, eh?
I see that Friends of the Earth have now stopped their league table. (See http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/climate/press_for_change/choose_green_energy/ for the reasons).
I can thoroughly recommend Good Energy (as does Tearfund) – not only is it 100% green, but you also get an inspiring newsletter with your bill! We switched over to them at work as well and I think our bills actually went down a bit. Our church next, I think… Info from www.good-energy.co.uk
Wotton-under-Edge, GB , 04 Oct 2005
The switching website www.energyhelpline.com enables you to search for the cheapest supplier of green energy in your area. If you switch through the site you get a £10 cashback as well. You can then gift-aid this to your favourite charity.
05 Oct 2005
We have switched to Manweb’s Green Energy H2O scheme. This promises to purchase the same amount of electricity we use from hydro-electric schemes in Scotland. In addition we’ll save money compared to our current tariff.
27 Oct 2005
Hopefully we are in transition at the moment ….
Bath, GB , 06 Dec 2005
We switched to Equigas some time ago, and to Equipower at GB this year. The next step is to switch to the greener tariff perhaps next year.
20 Dec 2005
Been with Good Energy for ages but now need to switch the gas. Through simplyswitch.com we have been recommended the best suppliers for our profile and they have identified an annual saving of £77.79. We will change from our current powergen supplier and donate the saving to charity.
Stroud, GB , 04 Feb 2006
npower have a tarif called ‘juice ’ for which they say they guarantee to put 1 Kw of ‘green’ electricity onto the grid for every Kw consumed – and it costs the same as their stadard enectricity tarif.
Milton Keynes, GB , 26 Feb 2006
Are in the process of changing over to Scottish Power H2O scheme. Quite a few options out there Uswitch.com is a good site to compare them.
Bristol, GB , 27 Feb 2006
are we allowed mixed motives? I’m in the process of changing supplier because my existing (mainstream) supplier’s staff were downright rude and unhelpful. a useful trigger for chosing a more ethical alternative!
Belfast, GB , 03 Mar 2006
There is a monopoly in northern Ireland called Northern Ireland Electricity, but you can register to have some of your power come from renewable sources. i signed up for it about a month ago. It was so easy that i thought that it didn’t actually work, however i got a letter the other week to confirm it. Any of you out there getting your lecky from NIE, go ask for it now, it’s easier than making a cup of tea!
01 Apr 2006
I just switched, as i’m on a meter for both my gas and electric I feel like i’m doing someone out of money…..
New Malden, GB , 03 May 2006
I’ve just switched to Ecotricity (http://www.ecotricity.co.uk/) which invests money in building new sources of green energy.
06 Jun 2006
Have already switched to Good Energy for our electricity, now need to switch gas from NPower.. Any recommendations?
12 Jun 2006
We changed from Powergen at the beginning of December last year, we are still receiving letters in the post asking us to go back to them. We are receiving less letters now, but at one point we were getting 2 or 3 a week, and this continued until at least arch, since then we have had one (and occasionaly 2) a week, I hope they have now got he message, we haven’t had one for 2 weeks!
All the waste of paper, which was recycled in my doorstep collection box, or used as shopping lists!
Weymouth, GB , 09 Aug 2006
Equigas are stars. They do a fantastic job for the poor and saved me money as a normal customer too. Its a no-brainer. Classic win-win, tell everyone to switch!
03 Sep 2006
Iv’e just switched to Ecotricity – I had been told that there is no such thing as an ethical ‘gas’ supplier – is this correct??
18 Sep 2006
We switched to Equipower both here at the Vicarage and in our own home, as we felt it was outragous how pre-paid meter customers are treated by many of the large suppliers, and wanted to help redress the ballance.
18 Sep 2006
have recently moved house and switched to npower juice, as I always thought they were green suppliers. Feel this is first step. Very confusing and want to do what’s best for planet, but also need to be careful with cost. Really want someone to tell me a green supplier for gas and eletricity which is kind to my pocket as well as the planet!! Can anyone help? Southern electric gas, plant trees to offset carbon emissions. Is this any good?
Winchester, GB , 19 Sep 2006
Offsetting for carbon emissions is good, but very limited.
We are registered with Good Energy and very pleased about it.
Going to look up gas alternatives…I see earlier comments mention equigas and energyhelpline.com, so will look them up.
Edinburgh, GB , 28 Sep 2006
I too have just switched to good energy and am looking into gas alternatives, so thanks for the advice I got just from reading others comments will be checking stuff out.
Caerphilly, GB , 02 Nov 2006
I’ve just joined the Generous community and am really grateful for all the info about green/ethical energy suppliers. I’ve been looking around for a couple of months and all this info is excellent. Will be switching very soon!
wolverhampton, GB , 19 Nov 2006
We have changed to good energy which is 100% renewable electricity and emailed all my friends to tell them to do the same.
Caerphilly, GB , 28 Nov 2006
Had a phone call from Ebico today to say that we are scheduled for gas switch over on 20th December. I’ve gone for Good Energy for electricity and this is in the process of being switched over as well. I’ll soon be able to tick this one off my list. Hooray!
24 Dec 2006
What about swapping to ethical telecoms providers too?
Check out the phone coop and details of their environmental policy at: http://www.thephone.coop/about/envir_policy.html
We’ve been with them for about 3 years for phone and broadband now and can recommend them.
Caerphilly, GB , 03 Feb 2007
Switchover has finally taken place, so I can officially tick this one off the list.
Leicester, GB , 14 Feb 2008
We’ve just switched from the ‘juice’ tarrif on npower to ecotricity. In theory the juice tarrif was green, but the amount ecotricity spend on developing new windfarms is about way more than juice, and I think it is cheaper too :)
Martock, GB , 24 Mar 2008
We signed up to “Good Energy”, which comes exclusively from renewables. (We were a bit surprised when the costs went up because electricity wholesale costs had risen because oil prices had risen! Why does renewable energy cost more when oil costs more?)
Newcastle, GB , 19 Jul 2008
Just switched to EbiCo today. Have lapsed in my good intentions of late. Will try harder.