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Environmental awareness has helped to develop numerous plans of action for reducing greenhouse gasses and other harmful emissions affecting the planet, and most immediately, the individuals living on this planet. People are learning that the environment is a fragile part of everyday life. Biodiversity is a necessary part of the cycle in which we all live. Without biodiversity, the planet will slowing deteriorate leaving a grim future for many generations yet to come. Environmental awareness has definitely taken on a life of its own. Utility providers such as npower, Scottish Power, and British Gas have all recently publicised their aim of staying (or becoming) environmentally friendly. According to Energy Watch (2007) consumers are spending around £30 billion on ethical and environmentally friendly goods, but those same consumers only spend about 0.2% on green energy. However, this is not entirely the consumers fault: the majority of consumers do not know how to go “green” with their electricity and gas. Unless the consumer actually provides their own source of energy with wind turbines, solar panels, or such, the reality of going green is a foreign concept leading to confusion. One method developed to allow consumers to utilise their everyday, common utilities is to opt for green tariffs. There are three types of popular green tariffs available today. The tariffs are then used to A) plant trees and use others methods to reduce the carbon footprint left by the consumer, B) support the research and implementation of renewable sources of electrical production, C) and/or guarantees the supplier will purchase energy from a renewable source a specific percentage of energy used. So how do three of the major power companies in the UK compare? What are they doing to promote and use “green” energy? npower is one energy provider committed to the reduction of numerous types of greenhouse gases by promoting and utilising renewable energy. One method utilised by npower is the investment of time and resources into alternative sources such as wind power, hydro power, and biomass power. In 2003, npower was working on the construction of a 48MW wind farm called Causeymire in Scotland. This project is estimated to be one of the strongest onshore projects utilising wind energy in the UK. Another project has been approved in South Wales that will supply an additional 20.8MW. Other wind farms have been approved for construction in North Wales and the wash. The wind farm site called Tritton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm will be the largest wind farm in the world capable of a rather astounding 1200MW. Additionally, npower produces 2.3MW utilising hydro power at two locations in Scotland – Garrogie and Braecallich. As for biomass capabilities, npower is investigating wood burning at coal-fired power station in Didcot, Aberthaw, and Tilbury. Currently, npower offers a program for providing consumers with green electricity at no additional cost to either the consumer or the planet. Simply by switching to a program appropriately called Juice, the consumer utilises green, renewable energy. In addition, switching is easy with no disruption in current service, and no need for additional pipes or cables. Another popular energy provider is none other than British Gas. But how environmentally responsible and friendly is British Gas? According to British Gas’s company website, “the main global and regional environmental concerns are climate change, biodiversity and local air quality”. Unfortunately, few exact details are given about how exactly British Gas promotes environmentally responsibility. Apparently, British Gas understands there is a need for concern, but other than supporting work researching possibilities for future development, British Gas does not offer the “green” energy needed for a cleaner, healthier future. Finally, Scottish Power is investigating energy production utilising environmentally conscience practices. In 2006, Scottish Power won the Queen’s Award in the Sustainable Development. By 2010, Scottish Power estimates at least 10% of all power used comes from a renewable, “green” source. In addition to the wind farms, Scottish Power is developing the Pelamis wave generator. The wind farms are also supplemented by hydro power. Which energy provider should you use to stay environmentally friendly? The obvious choice – if only for their currently active infrastructure – would be npower, but Scottish Power is quickly catching up in terms of technological advancement in developing renewable sources of energy. The future looks cleaner and healthier because two of the major energy suppliers – npower and Scottish Power – are taking drastic steps to insure the future is safe for generations to come. When choosing your energy provider, choosing a provider taking assertive steps in developing solutions to stay “green” benefits not only the consumer, but the planet.
Staff editor, Gas & Electricity Section, March 2007 |
