Monday, February 8th, 2010
Consumers are all too aware of the global warming issue, and many of us are seeking ways to reduce our carbon footprints. Now green energy has arrived, we can all do our bit to ensure that our household gas and electricity supplies come from greener sources, and here we explain how.
UK gas and electricity companies now have to make sure the at least 4,9 per cent of the power they supply comes from green energy sources. But what are these green energy sources? Right now there are four to choose from.
1. Solar power transforms the energy we receive from the sun into power for our homes, while wind power harnesses wind energy for the same purpose. We already obtain some of our energy from hydroelectricity, which is when we convert energy in flowing water to electricity. And lastly there is biomass fuel, where natural materials are burnt to provide energy for households.
2. We can all help to increase the level of green energy produced by signing up to the green tariff options now available from the majority of energy companies. There are usually two tariffs to choose from, and either one will lead to an increase in green power.
3. You can usually choose between a green tariff that takes the amount of energy that you consume and then guarantees to produce a matching amount of green energy, or you can choose a tariff that takes the extra money you pay to your supplier to spend on green energy initiatives.
4. Green energies are far more preferable to standard fossil fuel burning energies, as green energies have no harmful by-products, producing very little, if any, waste. Their sources are sustainable too, so their source of power will never run out.
5. Changing to a green tariff is no different than changing to any other gas or electricity tariff. There is no need to have any work carried out in your home, it is simply a matter of handling your account in a different way. It is likely that your current energy supplier will already have at least one eco-friendly tariff for its customers, if not have a look for suppliers that do by doing a quick online search.
If changing to a green tariff is too much of a stretch for your finances, you can instead examine the mix of fuels used by domestic suppliers. Suppliers must now publically provide information that details their CO2 emission levels and the amount of nuclear waste that they produce each year. Use this information so that you can pick a supplier that is greener than others.
British Gas can service all of your gas, electric and
British Gas can not only the leading gas suppliers, but can also provide you with a cheaper electricity supply too. requirements.
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Friday, August 14th, 2009
Knowing how to read your meter is important so that you can make sure that your energy bill is correct. Additionally, if you are finding your energy bills are too expensive, it might be possible to change your meter to make monitoring your energy use more easy.
What type of meter do you have?
There are three different types of meters in the UK.
Standard meters
A standard meter is a basic electromechanical induction meter, and usually measures your electricity consumption in terms of kilowatt-hours – the amount of energy used by a load of one kilowatt over the period of one hour. When this meter is installed, all electricity units are charged at the same rate, 24 hours a day.
Variable rate meters
Variable rate meters, or “economy 7 meters” as they are sometimes called, give two readings: one for daytime usage and one for night-time electricity usage. You might have one of these meters is your energy supplier offers variable rates (for example, you may pay less for your electricity at night).
Prepayment meters
Prepayment meters usually accept tokens or cards that can be bought or topped up, respectively. If the customer stops paying for electricity, the electricity supply will be cut off by a relay fitted into the meter. The advantage of this kind of meter is that you can budget for how much electricity you use by paying for it before you use it.
How to read meters
Numeric Display
Reading your meter is simple. If it is off the standard type, the first five figures, read from left to right, give you your energy reading.
For a variable rate meter, you will have to read off both sets of numbers, but ignore the last number from each row.
Meter Disputes
Energy suppliers are subject to strict regulations. All meters in the UK have to be approved by Ofgem to make sure that they are accurate for billing. It is important that you check the accuracy of any meter reading that is made by your supplier and if there are any problems you should make sure that you contact them. Ofgem provides a service to test meters in the case of any irresolvable disputes
Ensure you get the cheapest energy around with British Gas, on average the cheapest energy suppliers in Britain. Find great prices on energy, boiler insurance and homecare insurance online now.
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Sunday, August 9th, 2009
The production of greenhouse gases is one of the greatest contributors to the phenomenon of global warming, which threatens to destroy our planet. These gases, and most notably carbon dioxide, have enveloped our Earth in a blanket, which prevents heat effectively escaping into the atmosphere.
The effects of global warming are dramatic: with temperature rise, our weather systems may change, animals and plants may die and our health may be affected.
40% of carbon dioxide emissions in the UK are caused by our use of energy in the home. We can all, therefore, play roles in trying to limit emissions by changing our household habits.
Cutting energy use in the home is easy and it can also save you money.
1) Home Insulation
Home insulation will keep you warmer in winter without you needing to spend more on energy bills. To prevent heat from escaping you can try cavity insulation, loft insulation, floor insulation, draft proofing, pipe and tank insulation, solid wall insulation as well as double glazing.
2) Green gadgets
Everybody has heard of low-energy light-bulbs and they remain a great way to lower your electricity use in the home; however, they are not the only green-gadgets on the market. A quick scan of energy supplier websites and it is clear to see that there are many ways you can reduce your energy consumption. One planet saver favourite is a standby saver, which works as a multi-socket, but the difference is that it detects when you switch off your TV with the remote control and cuts the power to all of the appliances. Solar shed lights are also pretty nifty; they use the sun rays to power your garden and do not require leads running from the house. Check out the website of your energy supplier for more ideas.
3) Energy saving boilers
Old boilers are generally energy inefficient: using and losing vast amounts of energy which should be heating your water. Many energy providers now offer to upgrade your boilers to ones which are more energy efficient. Time to make a change?
4) Solar panels
Solar water heating systems help save the environment reduce your energy bills. Since they use the suns energy to heat your water, you don’t need to pay any bills; they even work when it’s cloudy! Solar water heating systems can supply you with 50-70% of your hot water.
Switch to British Gas today, the UK’s leading green electricity supplier. Take a look at their energy prices online now at britishgas.
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Wednesday, August 5th, 2009
There are lots of different gas and electricity tariffs available. Which ones you can have will depend on your area and the type of meter you have. Here are the main tyes of gas and electricity tariffs you will come across.
Dual fuel tariffs are when you receive both gas and electricity from the same company. They can be cheaper than using separate companies, for example British Gas offer very competitive rates with their dual fuel option.
Fixed price gas and electricity deals give you peace of mind with a set price for a specified time period. You are taking a chance with this type of tariff, because while you will certainly be grateful for your fixed rate if the prices go up, you could also be stuck paying over the odds if they go down.
Pre-payment meters are aimed at customers on a tight budget. These meters allow customers to pre-pay for their energy and thereby remove the risk of receiving an unexpectedly large bill. However, the gas and electricity prices can sometimes be higher for this type of meter. If you have a pre-payment meter and you want to change to an ordinary meter, contact your supplier.
Economy 7 rates require a special type of electricity meter which gives you different prices for electricity used during the day and the night. At night, overall demand for electricity is lower so with this type of meter the rate is cheaper at night.
Increasingly, green energy deals are becoming available where the electricity you buy is generated by environmentally sustainable methods. This includes wind power, solar energy and hydroelectric energy sources.
If a green energy supplier is not available in your area, another environmentally responsible option is carbon neutral gas and electricity. Even major providers are looking for greener products, and British Gas now has a carbon neutral dual fuel tariff that could save you money and the environment.
Look online and you will find lots of helpful information about the tariffs and offers available in your area. Use a price comparison website for a quick and easy way to find out about the latest deals.
On average British Gas are the cheapest electricity suppliers in the United Kingdom. To get an electricity quote from British Gas visit.
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