Green Electricity Watch makes it easy to make the switch
Date: 8-Oct-2007
As the world debates dangerous climate change and looks to our leaders for solutions, a new report by leading Australian environment groups shows each of us can help change climate change today by making the switch to accredited GreenPower electricity.
The latest independent review of GreenPower products - Green Electricity Watch 2007 - has revealed the country’s top green energy providers.
Launched today, the ranking system helps consumers to make more informed choices when buying government accredited GreenPower. With climate change at the forefront of national debate, Australia’s leading environment groups have commissioned Green Electricity Watch 2007 to help consumers understand which GreenPower products perform best for the environment, as well as offer value for money.
In NSW, Origin Energy, ActewAGL and Climate Friendly receive the highest Green Electricity Watch rankings. Commissioned by WWF-Australia, the Total Environment Centre and the Australian Conservation Foundation, Green Electricity Watch provides an independent ranking of GreenPower electricity products offered by Australian electricity retailers, helping consumers to confidently choose a product that they know will help reduce Australia’s greenhouse emissions.
“Over 500,000 Australians now have GreenPower, as more and more people realise that switching to accredited GreenPower for home electricity is the best and easiest way to cut household greenhouse emissions” said Phil Freeman, Climate Campaigner for the Australian Conservation Foundation.
“There are big differences between the GreenPower products and how much they help fight climate change. Green Electricity Watch takes the confusion away by ranking products on their capacity to reduce greenhouse emissions, so that people can make an informed decision based on their needs and budget,” said Jeff Angel, Director of the Total Environment Centre.
For the first time, this year’s Green Electricity Watch shows the value for money of each GreenPower product. “Providing a cost analysis helps people choose products that not only benefit the environment, but are good value for money too. It demonstrates clearly that switching to GreenPower is an affordable way of making a difference,” said WWF-Australia’s Climate Change Policy Manager, Nicole Ikenberg.
GreenPower is government-accredited, clean, renewable energy sourced from the wind, water, waste and the sun. While many GreenPower products include only a small percentage of accredited GreenPower, it is the accredited portion that makes the difference to our environment. Electricity consumption is the biggest single cause of Australia’s greenhouse pollution, with 90% sourced from dirty fossil fuels such as coal.
Buying electricity with the highest Green Electricity Watch ranking helps cut greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the dependence on fossil fuels and boosting the demand for clean, safe, renewable energy such as wind and solar.