The UK’s green energy targets have been widely derided as lacking ambition or not sufficiently aggressive to make a difference to global warming. Indeed, the facts remain that the hole in the ozone layer is expanding at an alarming rate, having increased in size from 130,000 sq km to 25,000,000 sq km in the past thirty years.

Whilst supranational agreements are sought on climate change, domestic energy consumers have been made aware of their obligations to help reverse the effects of global warming by reducing the size of their carbon footprints . In fact, many energy companies now offers customers the opportunity to purchase high efficiency condensing boilers and  electricity that has been generated entirely from clean, renewable sources. However, those aforementioned substandard renewable energy targets of the UK Government are actually proving to be more ambitious than first thought, but for the wrong reason.

Unfortunately, whilst critics continue to condemn the Government’s apparently half-hearted efforts to reverse climate change, those efforts are in themselves failing. Indeed, generating clean electricity from wind power is one of the driving forces behind the UK’s green energy strategy, yet the recent closure of the Vestas turbine manufacturing plant, which would have been involved in much of the development of new wind turbine plants in Britain, has blown the wind out of its sails. Faced with the prospect of a failing strategy that is already derided as insufficient, Gordon Brown PM aims to recapture the initiative by holding talks with Peter Löscher, the chief executive of Siemens, which only last week received a Government grant of £1.1m to help develop an offshore wind power converter. The prime objective of the talks is to convince Siemens, which is yet to commit to more extensive green energy developments in the country, that Britain is an attractive option for such business.

On the back of a deep recession, from which the British economy is only just beginning to emerge, it is unfortunate that times are unlikely to improve for many domestic energy consumers. In fact, there are indications that energy prices are likely to rise over the winter and, if there is one term that has punctuated the plight of millions more than any other during the recent global downturn, it is ‘fuel poverty’.

Unfortunately, fuel poverty, which essentially describes the condition of being unable to afford adequate energy supplies, is a problem that already affects the most financially vulnerable in the community.

Therefore, it is with considerable dismay that Britain’s leading six energy firms, which comprises British Gas, EDF Energy, E.ON, RWE, Scottish Power and Scottish and Southern Energy, have rejected calls to reduce domestic energy bills. Whilst this is unsurprising in itself, the failure to lower prices must be framed in the context of falling wholesale energy costs. Indeed, Ofgem, which called for lower domestic bills but is only responsible for regulating the competitiveness of the energy market, has already conceded that the leading six energy firms are set to increase their profits if the lower wholesale prices are sustained. As there is no indication that wholesale prices will increase in the near future, the energy companies’ failure to pass on these savings to customers is objectionable to say the least.

Furthermore, with the news that domestic bills are likely to increase over the winter, this discrepancy is set to widen further. To put the matter in perspective, despite the energy companies’ claims that other costs are pushing up prices, they will receive an average annual gross profit per consumer of around £170, which compares to £110 over the past three years.

DIVE IN WITH BRITISH GAS THIS WINTER

British Gas have teamed up with Swimming pools across the country to offer its Customers a free voucher for a swim. They can even bring the family along allowing you to make a splash without splashing out.

With this, Customers need to simply complete their details via the site and receive their voucher by their preferred method!

This promotion will run from now until the end of December 09′.

A rumble of thunder sounds overhead before the first flash of lightning electrifies the night sky. The satellite television is holding out as the winds pick up and rain begins to lash down. All is safe and cosy at home – until the power goes off.

Unfortunately, this is a familiar tale for many domestic energy consumers across the UK, who suffer power cuts as a result of various acts of nature, including flash floods and electrical storms. According to a study published earlier this month by LogicaCMG, Britain is heading towards major energy shortages within the next fifteen years possibly resulting in mass power cuts.

However, since their publication, these claims have been refuted by the Secretary of State for Climate Change and Energy, Ed Miliband, who advised that the UK is rapidly expanding its energy network with a number of new power stations. Whether this will be sufficient to avert the predicted energy deficit remains to be seen.

Nevertheless, Central Networks, which is responsible for delivering power to some 9.4 million homes across central England, has decided its own operations require closer scrutiny. Power cuts relating purely to acts of nature and problems with the infrastructure remain more pressing than those predicted by future energy shortages.

Central Networks’ Customer Panel has been launched to tackle everyday outages and help improve the infrastructure for years to come. In fact, Central Networks hopes it can use customer feedback to shape its networks for the future. Indeed, by giving the average utility customer a voice, Central Networks will be able to tackle a range of issues such as those relating to climate change, energy theft and weather emergency planning.

It goes without saying that gas central heating is fundamental to most homes across Great Britain. During winter, it is important to ensure that domestic heating appliances work effectively and efficiently. Although a broken down boiler will represent quite a considerable headache, the hidden costs associated with operating an inefficient boiler can hit where it hurts. However, the bank balance need not take a hefty knock this winter if the new boiler scheme by British Gas is taken up by those intending to replace their existing boilers.

Customers contacting British Gas before the 31st October 2009 to purchase their new boiler will receive up to £752 worth of savings. Specifically, customers will be able to enjoy £300 off the price of a brand new boiler and up to £248 worth of radiator heating controls or their cash equivalent. In addition, Free HomeCare 200 will be included with the boiler, which represents a saving of £204. Although this offer is sufficient to justify switching to a new British Gas boiler, there are a number of other reasons why it could be worthwhile. Replacing a noisy, ageing or malfunctioning boiler is something that should be done sooner rather than later to save costs and ensure that the central heating system remains safe – especially with Christmas fast approaching.

British Gas also claims its new boilers can save energy consumers money. Typical estimations suggest around £235 per year can be saved on heating bills by switching from an old, inefficient boiler to a new British Gas appliance. Moreover, British Gas boilers are installed by fully qualified Gas Safe engineers and spare parts are guaranteed for a minimum period of 10 years.

The internet has revolutionised how people go about their everyday business – from supermarket shopping and banking to booking flights or checking the weather, the internet makes almost everything easier.

Many people build large social networks online and even find partners, so it is hardly surprising energy companies have provided fast and effective online sign up and account management services. However, those who are not online or prefer to pay their bills by cash or cheque are missing out on far more than just Twittering – they are paying a larger premium for their energy.

Because the digital age has revolutionised so many services, companies have found they can save considerable sums of money by switching to online only services. Of course, in the case of energy companies this would not be a viable option because energy is a product that everybody needs, so its availability cannot be refused to those who are not online. Nevertheless, many energy companies do penalise their offline customers by providing greater incentives, discounted energy prices and bonuses to those who sign up online and manage their bills digitally.

Recent research published by uSwitch for The Daily Telegraph newspaper has suggested energy consumers who pay their bills quarterly by cash or cheque are paying on average £224 more than those who have signed up to the same gas and electricity services online. Whilst Ofgem claims around 1.3 million British households have signed up online, just under 14 million consumers continue to pay by standard credit. This discrepancy, which is no doubt costing energy companies vast sums of money, could explain why they apparently want to urge more customers to sign up online for cheaper prices.

The domestic central heating industry is being infiltrated by calls for green, renewable sources of energy. This, it is argued, is essential to save humanity. Whilst many people continue to dismiss such claims as pure sensationalism, the environmental threat that is facing mankind is in no way unfounded. Indeed, the planet is heading towards a climatic catastrophe and, despite growing public awareness of the need to reduce carbon emissions, the international community’s carbon footprint is growing larger.

The fundamental cause of global warming and its related problems is, predictably, human life. More specifically, industrialised human life has resulted in a sharp and continuing rise of greenhouse gas emissions, which are destroying the ozone layer in the Earth’s upper atmosphere. Although education on environmental matters has never been so widespread, many Governments remain opposed to the more ambitious plans to reduce carbon emissions. Indeed, the 30% reduction by 2020, which has been urged by the EU, has been countered with calls for up to 6% by the US. To put this in perspective, 30% might only just be enough to stop climate change reaching an irremediable state.

A number of major UK energy companies have signed up to the 10:10 campaign, which is calling for every individual person, company or body to reduce their carbon emissions by 10% from 2010. British Gas Energy is one such company to have signed up to the campaign. Catherine May, Centrica’s director of corporate affairs, who was at the national launch on Tuesday, said: “We support the 10:10 campaign and commit to doing everything we can to help our customers make their 10% cut. We hope they will use tools such as our Energy Savers Reports to get them on their way.”

If you have a wood burner or a combustion stove, you may be interested in a nifty little device that turns old newspapers into paper logs! Showcased (quite aptly) by the Guardian Newspaper, in their Eco Store section, a Newspaper Log Maker is the ideal way to recycle and reuse old newspapers as a source of home heating.

The cost of this environmentally friendly product, comes in at a credit crunch busting £30 and like everything these days, can be conveniently ordered online. The Log Maker is surprisingly easy to use, although does require a little time and effort. Whilst one newspaper should make one log (which equates to sixty minutes burning time) it is recommended you make the logs in batches, using about a dozen newspapers at a time.

You need an old dustbin or really large bucket and an old broom handle. You chuck the newspaper into the dustbin, add water and give it a great big stir! It will take up-to 48 hours for the pulp to be pulpy enough and you may have to check every now and again, sloshing the mixture around. You then simply add the gloopy mixture to the Log Maker and squeeze out the water. Of course, doing this outside or somewhere mess is not an issue is highly recommended! Once squashed the logs need to dry out, so place on top of some layers of dry newspaper (which can be recycled afterwards, but must be changed daily) and give it a light breeze, some sunshine and at least seven days.

Combine your paper logs with wood logs in your burner, to help your wallet and the environment!

There have been concerns over Britain’s move from traditional incandescent bulbs to their more energy efficient counterparts. Fluorescent energy saving bulbs are generally regarded as healthier for the environment and home energy bills. In fact, up to £45 or so can be saved using the more eco-friendly bulbs because they use up to 80% less electricity. This all seems very straightforward for a slightly greener future: out with the old, in with the new. However, not all may be as green as would first appear.

As of today, the traditional 100-watt incandescent bulb will be consigned to history. Outlawed by the EU, whose expert advisors sought the change in December 2008, the 100-watt incandescent lightbulb is considered too damaging for the environment. In pursuit of meeting its wider policies on climate change, the EU has arrived at the seemingly sensible conclusion that the 100-watt bulb is unsuitable for modern demands. However, as with many other policies and laws to have emerged from Brussels, a signficiant proportion of the British public is uncompromisingly opposed to the switch – but why?

According to a number of sources, which rely upon purely empirical evidence, the compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFL’s) cause various unpleasant health conditions, including migraines. More sensationalistic – and unfounded – claims go so far as to suggest that the new bulbs could cause skin cancer, although there is genuine concern over those people with extreme light sensitivity disorders. Furthermore, the CFL’s are said to contain substances that are ultimately harmful to the environment, such as mercury. Nevertheless, the CFL’s represent environmental savings that could help to cut Europe’s burgeoning carbon footprint. The real question is do people want to change?