Green Energy Explained - Part 2 of 4
You've probably heard a lot about green energy in the news - but what do you really know about it, and is it right for you? Moneysupermarket.com has produced an exclusive guide to renewable energy to help you decide.
If you want to go directly to another section of our green energy guide, you can click on one of the links to the left:
Why is green energy a good idea?
Global warming is a constant threat to our environment and considered a contributory factor in many freak weather conditions. Electricity production is the biggest contributor to the emissions that cause climate change.
The prime gas responsible for global warming is CO2. Burning fossil fuels - coal, oil and natural gas - produces a large amount of this gas and supplies of fossil fuels are rapidly decreasing. There is an ever-increasing need to find alternatives.
One alternative to fossil fuels is nuclear power, however this has met with wide protests from campaigners who believe that a nuclear reactor can produce radioactive waste with a 'lifespan' of thousands of years. There are also by-products that could potentially do harm to the environment.
Renewable energy is the environmentally friendly alternative. It has no by-products that could harm the atmosphere and comes from everlasting sources such as wind and water. There is little to no waste, and consequently more and more people are seeing renewable energy as a legitimate alternative.
So what can I do?
By switching to green energy you are likely to be spending more money. However, you will also be making a statement that you support renewable energy. If enough people make the switch then this could help to convince the Government to offer support to the industry.
Move on to part three to examine the various options available to the consumer looking to make the switch to green energy.
