| Ever wondered what the world would be like | | | | energy in water into kinetic energy to power |
| without electricity, gas, water on tap and | | | | turbines. |
| heat? Sounds like a nightmare, the stuff of | | | | |
| Hollywood, right? Wrong. It is a world we | | | | Biomass - Essentially, this uses natural and |
| could be facing in the not-too-distant | | | | waste products to produce heat. Think of the |
| future, if we don't do something about it. | | | | old-fashioned wood-burning heating systems |
| | | | and you have the general idea. Of course, |
| So what can we do? How do we avoid this scary | | | | there is much more to it than just burning |
| scenario? | | | | wood. Practically any biodegradable material |
| | | | can be used. |
| One alternative that is becoming more and | | | | |
| more popular is so-called "green" energy, | | | | And that's the basic idea behind green |
| using renewable resources and harnessing them | | | | energy. So where to start? As well as the |
| to provide us with the home comforts we've | | | | simplest ways of recycling your rubbish, and |
| come to depend on as a species. | | | | growing your own vegetables, you could switch |
| | | | to an energy-efficient supplier of your |
| There are four basic types of renewable, or | | | | utilities. |
| "green", energy: | | | | |
| | | | More and more gas and electricity companies |
| Solar - using energy from the sun and | | | | are waking up to the benefits of going green |
| converting it to heat and electricity. We | | | | and offering a green tariff in addition to |
| have all seen solar panels doing this | | | | their regular services. Generally this takes |
| wonderful job, but probably never thought you | | | | the form of generating an equal amount of |
| could get one yourself. Well, now you can. | | | | green energy for every unit of fossil fuel |
| | | | consumed. But there is also the option of |
| Wind - No shortage of this resource in the | | | | paying a little extra into your supplier to |
| UK! It's a good thing too, because wind | | | | be invested into renewable energy systems. |
| energy provides a clean source of power with | | | | |
| no nasty emissions into our precious | | | | Remember: we only have one planet. Help to |
| atmosphere. | | | | look after it! |
| | | | |
| Hydroelectric/water - Using another limitless | | | | For additional information and energy-saving |
| resource (essentially what green energy is | | | | tips visit Moneysupermarket. |
| all about), hydro-energy converts stored | | | | |