Additional Benefits

Types of additional environmental benefits

If you are choosing a Green Energy tariff you need to be satisfied that your decision is contributing to additional environmental benefits – or additionality.

Energy suppliers can deliver additionality in a variety of ways.

Carbon Offsetting

Every day actions such as driving a car, heating a home or flying, consume energy and produce carbon dioxide emissions. After avoiding and reducing those emissions as much as possible, carbon offsetting is a way of compensating for them by making an equivalent carbon dioxide saving elsewhere. Energy suppliers can purchase ‘credits’ to offset the emissions from the generation of electricity.

Green Funds

Some Green Energy tariffs donate money to charities or to trust funds established to invest in new renewable projects – generally at a community level.

Energy Efficiency Schemes

Green Energy tariffs might also support schemes that deliver energy efficiency benefits. These schemes would be outside the scope of the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT).