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June 08, 2005
Switching to green energy
Earlier this year we switched both our gas and electricity supply from Scottish Gas (a.k.a. British Gas) to a green provider, the RSPB (Scottish Hydro Electric). We will be paying a little more for our electricity but much less for our gas. (British Gas have raised their prices and achieved an 83 per cent increase in profits recently, so it’s just common sense to move to a cheaper supplier.)
Switching enables us to eliminate emissions resulting from our use of electricity, which is worthwhile considering that the Scottish coal-fired power stations of Longannet and Cockenzie are by far the largest producers of CO2 in the country.
(There are a number of websites that help you change supplier. I think I used uSwitch but the others are similar.)
money.guardian.co.uk/utilities/story/0,11992,1424595,00.html?gusrc=rss
Posted by Simon Holledge at June 8, 2005 09:12 PM
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Comments
Because each country only has a limited amount of hydro-power available, you are not saving the environment at all because you are merely using hydro-power that someone else would otherwise be using.
Posted by: Half Sigma at June 12, 2005 07:17 PM
Are you suggesting we shouldn't be signing up for green tariffs?
It's true that there is only a certain amount of green electricity available - wind as well as hydro - but if consumers sign up for it surely that encourages the producers, does it not?
Posted by: Simon Holledge at June 12, 2005 08:50 PM
Hydropower is the best source of electricity because it's essentially free. So all the good spots for dams have been used up (at least that's the case in the United States).
Posted by: Half Sigma at June 13, 2005 06:51 PM
True enough. I believe that holds for Scotland as well - hence all the interest in wind and wave power.
Posted by: Simon Holledge at June 13, 2005 07:07 PM