Climate change is happening, and its happening quickly. If it carries on like this, we can expect polar bears and many penguin species to be extinct in a few decades.

Climate change is caused by the things we do – using electricity generated from coal, oil and gas; using petrol and diesel in our vehicles and kerosene in aircraft; burning gas to heat our buildings.

So the good news is, we can help slow it down by changing what we do. Buying your electricity from a supplier of “green electricity” (generated from wind and water and other energy that doesn’t use fossil fuels) helps cut down the pollution that causes climate change.

What is green electricity?

Green electricity is electricity that is generated from renewable sources, such as wind, water, sunlight or biomass (i.e. organic matter).

Why use green electricity?

1. Using green electricity means that no fossil fuels such as coal, oil or gas have been burned to produce your power, so you have not added to the pollution that is contributing to climate change.

2. The production of your electricity has not generated any hazardous nuclear waste that has to be stored.

3. As a clean source of energy, your local air quality is better.

4. It may even cost you less!

Where do I get green electricity?

A number of suppliers provide green electricity tariffs. Friends of the Earth recommends suppliers that:

• Only sell green electricity, or;
• Produce green electricity in a large percentage of power stations they own;
• Buy or generate one unit of green electricity for every unit a person buys, and;
• Hold onto at least some of the proof that they have done this.

The suppliers that Friends of the Earth recommends are:

• Ecotricity Old Energy Tariff
• Good Energy
• Green Energy 100

How do I know it's green?

Every unit of green electricity generated comes with a certificate of proof that it is green. Companies use the proof to demonstrate to the Government they have met their legal obligation for green electricity production (3% of electricity sold must be from renewables).

Some companies will keep these certificates, and others will sell the certificates to other companies (who can then use them to meet their obligations). Keeping the certificates is best for the future of green electricity, as by keeping hold of them companies are increasing demand for certificates, which in turn encourages new development.

How do I change and get green?

Switching is quick and easy:

1. Get in touch with the new supplier and agree a contract with them. Once the contract is agreed, the transfer process should take about six weeks to complete. Your new supplier will keep you informed about how your transfer is being progressed.

2. Give your old supplier 28 days notice that you are changing to a new supplier. Energywatch, the gas and electricity watchdog, advises that you do this initially by telephone and follow it up with written confirmation. If you do not tell your old supplier that you are changing, this can disrupt or delay your transfer to the new supplier.

3. Pay any outstanding bills owing to your existing supplier. If you do not, they may prevent you from transferring.

4. Take a meter reading on the day you change supplier. If your old supplier does not use it to work out your final bill, or your new supplier does not use it as the starting point for your first bill, let them know the meter reading you have taken.

Where can I find out more?

Contact the suppliers at:

Ecotricity
http://www.ecotricity.co.uk/
08000 326 100

Good Energy
http://www.good-energy.co.uk/
0845 456 1640

Green Energy
http://www.greenenergy.uk.com/
0845 456 9550

For general advice on energy and details of supplier's service levels:

Energywatch
http://www.energywatch.org.uk
08459 06 07 08