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How To Choose The Right Green Electricity Tariff In The Uk
By Alex Perry
Many people are now trying to take action to help protect the environment, including reducing their personal contribution to Climate Change. One of the ways in which almost 200,000 people in the UK are trying to do this is by buying the electricity they use in their home or from more environmentally friendly sources. And many more may be about to do the same. A poll commissioned by the Observer at the end of 2006 found that 64% of people would consider switching to a green company for their gas and electricity.
However, according to a report published by the National Consumer Council early in 2007, consumers need to watch out when they are signing up for a ‘green’ electricity tariff. According to their report, many green tariffs are not delivering the environmental benefits that they claim to. As a result, electricity customers may not be making the positive contribution to protecting the environment that they think they are.
This is because large electricity companies are already required by law to generate a certain amount of their power from renewable sources. Many suppliers do little more than re-package these legal obligations and market them as special ‘green tariffs’. But by signing up, people are not increasing the amount of electricity generated from renewable sources, and so are not helping to combat Climate Change.
What’s more, it is not always easy for consumers to cut through the marketing hype to obtain information about green tariffs, and to work out how much they are contributing to the environment. The National Consumer Council found that there is too little clear and accurate information available on most green tariffs, and it is hard for consumers to compare because it is not in a standard format. With all the complexities around the tariffs it is easy for consumers to be misled by suppliers’ claims. They also found that company sales assistants are not always well enough informed to help consumers make a proper decision.
As a first step the National Consumer Council recommends researching on the Internet, on an independent site that isn’t linked to any of the supply companies (such as http://www.downwithco2.co.uk ), and can help them decide which tariff to go for. After that they should go through to individual company web-sites, where they can often sign up in a matter of minutes.
Householders should check carefully before they sign up for a new tariff exactly what impact this will have. They should check with the new company if their custom will really mean that extra renewable electricity will be produced, and there will be a real reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.
Although signing up for the right green tariff can have an impact on the greenhouse gas emissions people are responsible for, they should also focus heavily on saving energy, because they can have a far greater impact this way. Simple measures like switching to low energy light bulbs, getting their loft or cavity walls insulated, and buying a new super-efficient boiler can have a very large impact, and save money on their energy bills. Article Source: http://articlecrazy.com Alex Perry is a founder of www.downwithco2.co.uk, a site dedicated to making it easy for people to save energy and cut their personal contribution to Climate Change by giving them information and putting them in touch with companies that can help
Internet rife with child pornography
The Third World Congress against Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents has once again flagged the seriousness of the problem in Japan: Despite being a leading Internet power, Tokyo has not reviewed a single related law, leading to a situation in which simple possession of child pornography is not illegal. Further, the country has no regulations in place to control images of sexual exploitation in manga and animated films. (Yomiuri)
Iceland whale meat to arrive in Japan
Japan is to allow imports of whale meat from Iceland for the first time since 1991, a report said Sunday. (AFP)
Japanese job-for-life disappears
Hundreds of students preparing to enter the Japanese workforce have had their careers curtailed before they have even donned the suit of a salaryman for the first time. (telegraph.co.uk)
Japan should acknowledge 'comfort women' pain: British MPs
Japan should acknowledge the importance of Second World War "comfort women" as a "painful and emotive" issue in South Korea, an influential committee of British parliamentarians said Sunday. (AFP)
Chinese firms plundering Japanese sake brand names
Famous trademarks belonging to Japanese sake and shochu brewers have been registered or are in the process of being registered in China by Chinese firms and individuals without the consent of the genuine brewers, according to a survey by the Japan Sake Brewers Association. (Asia News Network)
The art of the toilet in Japan
No country takes toilets quite so seriously as Japan.
Machines with heated seats, built-in bidets and a dynamic range of flushing options are almost ubiquitous in homes and public buildings. (BBC)
NPA to set up child crime squads
The National Police Agency likely will introduce measures aimed at identifying people who are observed acting suspiciously around children, in an attempt to preventing serious crimes against minors such as abduction or murder, according to sources. (Yomiuri)
Birthday events canceled as Princess Aiko catches cold
Events for Monday to mark the seventh birthday of Princess Aiko have been canceled as she has caught a cold, the Imperial Household Agency said Sunday. (Kyodo)
Japanese airlines operate extraordinary flights from Thailand
Japan's two major airlines said Sunday they are organising extraordinary flights from Thailand`s U-Tapao military airbase near Pattaya to bring back tourists stranded by mass protests. (Antara)
Financial crisis hits Brazilians in Japan
After almost 12 years in Japan, Isac Freitas never imagined he would see a day where he would be lining up at a job placement agency. Freitas is one of many foreign contract workers serving in Japan's manufacturing sector who recently have been hit by the sudden economic downturn. As major manufacturers such as Toyota, Suzuki and Yamaha cut their production due to grim worldwide sales, those companies, subsidiaries and parts makers have also started to cut contract workers. Japanese dailies reported Toyota is planning to slash 3,000 of 6,000 contract workers by March, 2009. Suzuki Motor Corp, which runs plants from auto parts to final assembly in Hamamatsu City, also plans to let go of 600 contract workers.
(ABC News)
More Japanese men than women looking for love at Xmas
More single Japanese men than women are looking for love this Christmas to beat the holiday blues, according to a survey released this week. (AFP)
Green tea and seaweed soup blasted into space for Japanese astronauts
Seaweed soup, mackerel in miso, rice balls, curry and green tea are among 20 examples of Japanese cuisine en route to the International Space Station (ISS). (telegraph.co.uk)
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