Green energy is when 100% of the energy produced comes from renewable sources. This can include: wind farms, hydropower, solar power, and geothermal energy.
Non-renewable sources, such as coal and crude oil, have a detrimental effect on the environment. Fossil fuels release a variety of greenhouse gases when they're released, which is a major contributor to global climate change.
To find out more about green energy, we'd recommend this useful guide.
It is your right as a tenant to switch energy suppliers. That's right! People assume they can’t switch providers because they’re renting but that’s not the case. However, if your bills are included in your rent, then the landlord gets to choose who you’re with.
We've put together some steps you can take to having more sustainable energy:
1. Sign up for paperless billing
2. Find out more about the sustainability of your current supplier at Switch It
3. Consider switching to a renewable energy supplier. Ethical Consumer have this useful guide to energy suppliers
If your bills are included in your rent, the landlord will choose your supplier. However, you can ask your landlord to consider switching to a renewable supplier. If you would like to get further advice on this, you can contact our Advice Centre.
Comparison sites can be useful because they show all the information in one place. However, they can’t help you switch to every provider, especially smaller ones and they don’t always display every tariff. While they’re good as an overview, you’re normally best having a look directly on the website. Though, they often offer incentives to use them, so that might be a reason to use them.
Once you start the switch, it will take about six weeks until the new people start providing energy into your house. During that time all your energy usage will need to be paid to the old suppliers.
Your new supplier will then get in touch asking for you to send in opening meter readings. Similar to when you first moved in your house, it’s important you take note of these and send them in. It means your new supplier knows what point to start charging your usage from, their prices are usually cheaper, so make sure they have the readings and don’t estimate it to be higher than it is.
When you’re shopping around, make sure you find the best tariff for you. Similar to a mobile phone tariff, they come in different shapes and sizes for different lengths of time and costs.
Typically, most tariffs are fixed for 12 months, or they’re variable. Looking at the tariffs initially, you might think a variable tariff is better for you, as you might not be living in your house for the full 12 months, but usually this wouldn’t be the case.
Variable tariffs mean that you’re not tied into a contract, so you can switch suppliers (or change your tariff with the same supplier) at any time without getting charged for it. Sounds good, right? Well, having a variable tariff means that your prices might change at any time, so while that means they might drop, it’s more likely they’ll become more expensive.
But with a fixed tariff, those prices are in place for 12 months (or however long they set it), regardless of what happens to the energy market. However, they will usually charge exit fees if you switch suppliers during that time. Most suppliers will only charge exit fees if you switch suppliers and not if you move out of the property. So it’s worth double-checking that with them, but that means you can get the best deal for you during your time in your house.
Most providers will also offer paper and paperless tariffs. Usually paperless tariffs are cheaper and you’ll receive your statements and notifications by email rather than through the post. Why waste money and paper when you can get it by email and do your bit for the planet at the same time?