Greener Energy Suppliers
In addition to doing everything you can to cut your own energy usage, you can also make a difference to your carbon footprint, and actively drive demand for renewable energy, by choosing your energy suppliers wisely.
Electricity
In the UK less than 5% of electricity production comes from renewable sources:
| Electricity Production | |
|---|---|
| Coal | 35.8% |
| Natural gas | 38.8% |
| Nuclear | 18.6% |
| Renewable | 4.7% |
| Other | 2.1% |
(Source: GEM)
The government has set targets for increasing the amount of energy produced from renewable sources but consumer demand is, as always, the biggest driver. So choosing a green supplier and a green tariff not only cuts your carbon footprint but pushes the investment into renewable power generation.
All the major UK suppliers have become adept at advertising their 'green' credentials, but what's really being done and how can you contribute?
Green electricity
Green electricity is electricity produced from renewable sources. There are smaller independent suppliers in the UK that only supply energy that comes from renewable sources - in other words 100% renewable energy. Expect to pay a premium for units, but in return you are contributing zero carbon emissions and driving demand for green energy in the most effective way.
The traditional power companies - EDF, British Gas etc - all produce or source some green electricity, but the percentages are low: 5% or less. They also buy green electricity from other suppliers, to meet their customers' demands and meet the minimum requirements set down by the government.
Green tariffs
There are a huge variety of 'green' tariffs. Each of the major suppliers offer a number of tariffs to choose from. These generally revolve around:
- Green electricity - you pay a premium for your units in return for a specified percentage of your electricity coming from renewable sources. Check the small print to see how much renewable energy you'll be buying.
- Carbon offsetting - you pay a premium for your units and the money is used to buy carbon offsetting units from Kyoto approved projects.
- Tree planting - you pay a premium for your units and this is used to plant trees.
- Green fund - you pay a premium for your units and the money generated goes into a fund dedicated to researching and building renewable power plants.
- ROC retiring - all green producers are given certificates for their green power which can then be bought by suppliers that need to boost their green purchasing to meet their government obligations. Some producers 'retire' a % of their certificates rather than trading them to reduce the supply and therefore force more investment in new renewable plants. Look to see if your supplier retires any of their ROCs.
You can find the best green tariffs to suit your needs and get a detailed review of the activities of each supplier from Green Electricity Marketplace (GEM) at www.greenelectricity.org. This easy to use and understand site helps you to make a properly informed decision about which supplier and tariff to choose.
Gas
Biomass gas is gas produced from biomass materials (plants, plant oils, manure etc). Burning it releases carbon, but only as much as was absorbed during the plant's or animal's life - so is carbon neutral. Although we generate some of this gas in the UK, there are no mainstream opportunities to directly buy it.
The gas which is piped into our homes and businesses is a finite fossil fuel source, not a renewable energy. Burning it increases your carbon footprint. If you use gas or LPG then choose a supplier with a green tariff, where the carbon generated is offset in some way, preferably through Kyoto approved schemes.
Suggested next step:
Quick Links
- Go to the Green Tourism Business Scheme website
- Use Business Link's environmental compliance tool
- Find business advice on the Envirowise website
- Find environmental regulations for tourism businesses on the NetRegs website
- Find out more about local food at the Local Food Works website
- Visit Northumbria Larder for regional food ideas
- Energy Saving Lighting Case Study – Haggerston Castle
- 129 Kb
Energy Saving Lighting Case Study – Haggerston Castle have earned a Silver Award having replaced the light bulbs in their main entertainment complex with energy saving units which will save around £600 of electricity per year.
- Green Building Case Study – County Durham Tourism Partnership
- 131 Kb
Green Building Case Study – County Durham Tourism Partnership have won a Gold Award for the construction of their new offices. Features include rammed earth construction, wood pellet fed biomass boilers and rainwater collection for toilet flushing and irrigating the buildings sedum roof.
- Habitat Case Study – Low Cornriggs
- 171 Kb
Habitat Case Study – Low Cornriggs self catering is a Silver Award winner. The farm is managed in a traditional way and there are parts which are designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest. These are species rich upland hay meadows and the business is involved with the AONB Hay Time project. They are working closely with the AONB to ensure the preservation and enhancement of this rare habitat.
- Marketing Case Study - Wansbeck Caravan Park
- 153 Kb
Marketing Case Study - Wansbeck Caravan Park has attained a bronze award through a range of basic environmental measures and particularly through good communication with customers.
- Local Produce Case Study - Grindon Cartshed
- 153 Kb
Local Produce Case Study - Grindon Cartshed have a passionate commitment to the environment and are particularly strong on supplying local produce, cutting out food miles and the middle man, supporting the local economy and introducing guests to a real taste of the North East
- Guest Information Case Study - Pasture Cottage
- 134 Kb
Guest Information Case Study - Pasture Cottage is a Silver Award winner for overall very good measures. It scored well across the whole GTBS scheme and provides particularly good wildlife information for guests.
- Self-catering Case Study – Springhill Farm Cottages
- 166 Kb
Self-catering Case Study – Springhill Farm Cottages has won a Silver Award through a range of green methods - including a reed bed waster water system.
- North East Farmers' Markets
- 81 Kb
A PDF factsheet of the dates of Farmers' Markets throughout North East England
- Composting Case Study – Simonburn Tearooms
- 177 Kb
Composting Case Study – Simonburn Tearooms have earned a Silver Award having reduced their general waste by 90% following the introduction of a three bin recycling system.
- Eco-Products Case Study – Low Urpeth
- 146 Kb
Eco-Products Case Study – Low Urpeth have earned a Silver Award having introduced a range of eco-cleaning materials and water saving systems.
- Combined Heat & Power Case Study – Gisborough Hall
- 111 Kb
Combined Heat & Power Case Study – Gisborough Hall have a range of energy conservation measures and a Combined Heat and Power System which is up to 85% efficient which together have earned them a Silver Award.
- Special Diets Case Study - The Byre Vegetarian B+B
- 147 Kb
Special Diets Case Study - The Byre Vegetarian B+B is an all round green B&B, serving only vegetarian food. There is a sound environmental principle behind vegetarianism - meat production requires significantly more land area per product.
- Green Gardening Case Study - Birkheads Secret Garden
- 135 Kb
Green Gardening Case Study - Birkheads Secret Garden hold a Silver Award. The owner is a qualified garden designer and many different techniques have been employed in the garden to minimise the impact the operations are having on the environment.
- Hotel Case Study – Dustanburgh Castle Hotel
- 179 Kb
Hotel Case Study – Dustanburgh Castle Hotel is a GOLD award winner for their overall excellent green measures.
- Greener Purchasing Case Study – Killhope
- 175 Kb
Greener Purchasing Case Study – Killhope Lead Mining Museum is a GOLD award winner. They have an excellent overall range of measures but the case study focusses particularly on their green purchasing strategy for the museum shop which includes a wide range of ethically sourced and recycled products.
- Green Business Case Study - Northumberland Cottages
- 178 Kb
Green Business Case Study - Northumberland Cottages are a letting agency who are aiming to become a Green Business. The business may join the GTBS through a stepping stone approach known as Going Green “Committed to the GTBS”
- Light Pollution Case Study – Border Forest Caravan Park
- 157 Kb
Light Pollution Case Study – Border Forest Caravan Park is on the edge of the Kielder Forest. As a large rural park they were very aware of the effect their external lighting was having on the local night sky. Their efforts to shade lights and reduce light pollution has won them a Silver Award.
- Biodiversity Case Study – East Briscoe Farm Cottages
- 138 Kb
Biodiversity Case Study – East Briscoe Farm Cottages have won a Gold Award for their biodiversity. These self-catering cottages have a strong focus on managing their woodland and surrounding grounds with a sensitivity towards the flora and fauna.
- Green Building Case Study – The Hytte
- 163 Kb
Green Building Case Study – The Hytte has won a Gold Award. It is a luxury norwegian inspired log construction with a turf roof and ground source heat pump.
- Solar Hot Water Case Study – 8 St Aidens Park
- 140 Kb
Solar Hot Water Case Study – 8 St Aidens Park has installed solar thermal to generate hot water for their 4 diamond bed and breakfast.
- Car Free Case Study – Argument Cottage
- 127 Kb
Car Free Case Study – Argument Cottage have won a Silver Award. The owners have excelled in providing the resources to allow their guests to give the car a holiday. They have produced an 8 day itinerary of suggestions that provide details of interesting places to visit in the local area.
- Pub Case Study - Twice Brewed Inn
- 157 Kb
Pub Case Study - Twice Brewed Inn has won a Silver Award for a range of measure which include local produce, recycling, environmental cleaning, a display case for local artists and planting hundreds of trees in a ten acre plot.
- Appliances Case Study – West Longridge Cottages
- 137 Kb
Appliances Case Study – West Longridge Cottages
- Biomass Case Study – Strathmore Barns Woodchip
- 168 Kb
Biomass Case Study – Strathmore Barns have won a Silver Award for good practice including a 100kw woodchip boiler powering 51 radiators and 9 bathrooms which runs on waste from a local kitchen manufacturer.
- Green Business Case Study - Firwood
- 176 Kb
Green Business Case Study - Firwood has achieved a Green Tourism Business Scheme Silver award through general good practice in most areas, with particular focus on energy, water and waste.
- Greener Purchasing Case Study – West Coates BB
- 400 Kb
Greener Purchasing Case Study – West Coates Bed and Breakfast is a GOLD winner for their overall excellent environmental practices. Not only is local sourcing a key part of their green strategy but local producers are promoted on their breakfasts menus and the proprietor gives cookery lessons to promote local ingredients and local dishes.
- Ground Source Heat Pump Case Study – Deneholme
- 143 Kb
Ground Source Heat Pump Case Study – Deneholme use solar water heating, solar panels and a 37kw ground source heat pump to heat the Edwardian mansion. Other measures include a rainwater harversting system for flushing the toilets.
- Wildlife Case Study – Old School B&B
- 141 Kb
Wildlife Case Study – Old School B&B has won awards in the Winner of the North East B&B of the year as well as a Gold Award winner in the Green Tourism Business Scheme - for its Hedgehog Hospital.
- B&B Case Study - Saughy Rigg
- 165 Kb
B&B Case Study - Saughy Rigg. How one B&B earned a Silver Award through extensive use of renewables (solar, ground source and biomass) and good use of local produce.
- Composting Case Study – Newt Cottage
- 144 Kb
Composting Case Study – Newt Cottage have earned a Gold Award for features including the use of sheeps wool insulation, use of eco paints, a heat pump, solar panels, use of green energy tariffs and low energy lighting. The owners supply homegrown organic produce, use fair trade items, recycled products recycling facilities such as composting systems as well as provide excellent walking and wildlife information. One of the most novel features in the development is the option to use a COMPOST TOILET.
- Greener Purchasing Case Study – Polemonium
- 216 Kb
Greener Purchasing Case Study – Polemonium Plantery is a GOLD winner. This case study focuses on their outstanding commitment to local sourcing, particularly of local organic milk delivered in re-usable glass bottles
- Re-use Case Study – Ninebanks Youth Hostel
- 144 Kb
Re-use Case Study – Ninebanks Youth Hostel has gained a Gold Award for their excellent environmental practices. They are particularly strong on re-use: their extension was built from reclaimed stone, one set of their tables and chairs came from the national gallery and even their curtain have been reclaimed.
- Renewable Energy Case Study – Whitelee Cottages
- 173 Kb
Renewable Energy Case Study – Whitelee Cottages have won a Silver award for their outstanding use of renewable energy. They have a 2.5kw wind turbine, solar water heating, solar photovoltaic panels and two ground source heat pumps.
- Insulation Case Study – Boot and Shoe Cottage
- 151 Kb
Insulation Case Study – Boot and Shoe Cottage have a Silver Award through a range of good environmental practices which include sheeps wool loft insulation.
- Self-catering Case Study - Durham Cottages
- 161 Kb
Self-catering Case Study - Durham Cottage has won a Bronze Award for their overall green approach which includes recycling, green housekeeping and maintenance and excellent guest information on walking and cycling.
Green & Local
- Less Water With Your Food and Drink (22/2/2008)
- Durham University leads UK research project into cheaper Solar Energy (14/1/2008)
- Top Award for Lean & Green Consett Company (11/12/2007)
- Seafood Hub Hauls Anchor (21/11/2007)
- New Farming & Food Manager out and about (13/11/2007)
Green & Local RSS News Feed
Features and Articles
Raising Quality
Raising quality is on every tourism strategy in the UK. Why? Competition, competition, competition.
Training & Skills
Developing your staff's skills and approach will pay huge dividends to your business - and to your staff themselves.
Rules & Regulations
Knowing what you've got to (and how to do it) will save you time, money and stop you falling foul of the law.