One of the biggest concerns for our carbon footprints at home is how much and what type of energy we use. Most houses receive either electricity or both electricity and gas. But if you’re concerned about the use of fossil fuels, you’re probably wondering if there’s a better way. As well as cutting back on the amount of energy you use, you can also look for green energy tariffs and even research ways that you can generate your own electricity. If you want to change your situation and start using less or more eco-friendly energy, have a look at the below information.
Buying Green Electricity
If you want a greener power supply, check with your current supplier and others to see if they offer a green tariff. These tariffs aim to support renewable energy and come in two types: green supply tariffs and green funds.
A supply tariff means that some or all of your electricity gets matched by purchases of renewable energy by your supplier. They should tell you which sources they include and how much of your supply is renewable. However, you should check the specifics of the tariff. Some green tariffs say that your supply is renewable, but it only assigns some of the renewable energy the company is required to buy to you. At the same time, they reduce the amount they supply to others. This has no effect on the quantity of renewables companies buy. Look for suppliers that guarantee that a proportion of the energy they provide you is ‘additional’.
The other option is a green fund, which involves paying a premium to contribute towards the development of renewables.
Changing Your Energy Use
Whether or not you decide to switch to a green tariff, changing your electricity use is important too. Some of the things you should change involve your purchases while others might involve breaking bad habits. One of the easiest things you can do is to switch your light bulbs. If you replace each standard light with an e27 LED bulb, you can save a lot of energy right away. You can also look into getting other low-energy appliances and electronics. But changing your behaviour is essential too. You should take a look at the places where you can cut down on electricity use. For example, you could reduce the number of times you do your laundry each week or even do something as simple as turning lights off.
Generating Your Own Electricity
If you’re not happy with what energy suppliers offer, you can install renewable technology. There are several different types of technology you can consider for your home, depending on the resources available. For example, if there’s a river or stream on your property, you might be able to use hydroelectricity. Other options include solar thermal, solar PV, heat pumps, and biomass. Whether you can use any of these will depend on your home and personal circumstances.
Most people wouldn’t want to function without electricity, but there are ways we can create and use it responsibly. Think about how you can change your usage to contribute towards a better planet.