Going green

Did you know that approximately 75 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions comes from burning fossil fuels for electricity and heating? This is why switching to green energy really matters if you want to reduce your household’s carbon footprint and have an impact on combatting climate change. With our guide to the best green energy suppliers in the UK, you can compare the most environmentally friendly and select an energy efficient tariff that best suits you.

It’s worth pointing out, however, that nothing changes to your actual energy supply when you do switch to a greener tariff. It simply means that your supplier will make sure they purchase enough power from renewable sources to match your use.

Breaking the bad

And herein lies the rub, because unfortunately some suppliers are not being entirely honest about the amount of renewable energy they are putting back into the system. Currently, when a supplier purchases renewable energy, they will receive a certificate called a Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin (REGO). However, these certificates can be sold separately from the renewable energy, with some suppliers believed to be buying up certificates without meeting their obligations.

With concerns that such green washing is becoming more prevalent, it is vital that a trusted and transparent rating system is in place, which is where Etheco comes in. We have established a vigorous ratings methodology that is unrivalled in the market, based on an amalgamation of gold standard data sources. We will be launching our ratings engine very soon, so please stay tuned!

In the meantime, we’ve created the etheco Directory – an independent directory of ethical and responsible service providers you can trust right now.

How we rate

At etheoc, we have developed a unique ratings framework, known as the 4Ps – People, Planet, Pocket and Performance:

• People – rates according to workers’ rights, societal contribution, tax practices and modern slavery links
• Planet – explores environmental impact, carbon footprint, fossil fuel involvement and recyclability
• Pocket – focuses on affordability, total cost, fees, warranty and on-going charges
• Performance – hones in on user reviews, complaints, Ts&Cs clarity and unfounded claims.

The end result is a ratings system that is second to none, with one clear score per entry, making it easy for you to switch your gas and electricity supplier and choose a green energy deal that best works for you.

How to switch

How to switch

Switching to a green energy supplier is a straightforward process. Once you’ve chosen a new supplier and tariff, you’ll need to provide them with some basic information from your current energy bill, including your postcode, the name of your current supplier and tariff, your unit rate in kilowatt hours (kWh), and your annual energy usage. Your new supplier will then handle the switch for you and let you know when it will happen — the whole process should take no more than five working days.

You don’t need to contact your old supplier, as the new one takes care of everything. If you change your mind, new domestic contracts can be cancelled within 14 days. It’s also worth knowing that you can still switch even if you owe money to your current supplier, provided the debt is less than 28 days old.

Our recommended home energy suppliers

When it comes to choosing a genuinely green supplier, four names stand out.

Ecotricity, founded in 1995, is widely regarded as the pioneer of the green energy supply movement in Britain. It supplies 100% green electricity certified as vegan, and operates its own wind and solar farms — reinvesting customer bills into building new sources of green energy rather than paying shareholder dividends.

Good Energy is the UK’s only B Corp certified home energy supplier, offering 100% renewable electricity matched in real time with a community of over 3,000 independent UK generators, and also provides solar panel, battery and heat pump installations.

Octopus Energy operates one of Europe’s largest renewable power portfolios, managing around £6 billion worth of green generation assets, and buys renewable electricity from over 700 UK generators. It also offers innovative smart tariffs that reward customers for shifting energy use to greener times of day.

Finally, 100Green (formerly Green Energy UK), established in 2001, is currently the only energy supplier in the UK to offer 100% green gas alongside renewable electricity — all sourced from UK-based generators using wind, solar, hydro, biomass and anaerobic digestion. Unlike many suppliers, 100Green uses no fossil fuels in any of its energy, meaning there is nothing to carbon offset.

Each of these suppliers brings something different to the table, but all share a genuine commitment to renewable energy that goes well beyond purchasing REGO certificates.

FAQs

Is switching to green energy a growing trend?

Yes, very much so. According to data from the National Grid, in 2015, the amount of green energy that powered the UK was around 14.2 per cent. Last year that figure was 41 per cent, showing a whopping 27 per cent growth in just ten years. 

Isn’t green energy more expensive?

Aside from the vast benefits of green energy on the environment, switching to a renewable energy supplier can also save you money on your energy bills. With the technology and infrastructure needed to create green energy becoming more affordable and efficient, the costs of creating it is dropping while the production of fossil fuel generated energy is becoming more expensive. 

How does carbon off setting work when it comes to green energy?
Well, unlike electricity, renewable gas is much harder to generate and therefore isn’t very widely available. As a result some suppliers will off set the carbon emissions that come from the gas by planting trees, investing in forest conservation or supporting other global green projects.

Are there any suppliers that offer a fully renewable energy tariff?
Yes, there are a couple of companies that do offer 100 per cent renewable energy, for both electricity and gas, with Ecotricity and 100Green springing to mind. Obviously these are to be highly commended, though they do come at a premium when compared to more mainstream suppliers.

I live in a rental property, is it still possible for me to switch to a green energy supplier?
If you pay your bills, then legally you are entitled to switch and source your energy from who ever you like. However, if you’re landlord pays your utilities, then it could be a bit more difficult, but it’s definitely worth asking them if it’s something they would consider.

Start your switch

Switching to a green energy supplier is not only one of the most effective ways for you to reduce your impact on the climate; it is quick, easy and might even save you money too. What’s more, you’ll be helping to reshape the energy sector from being the largest contributor to the climate crisis to a powerful part of the solution.