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Why use renewable energy?
This is your hub of everyday tips to make a positive, planet-saving change through your energy use.
We must stop adding greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. This means goodbye fossil fuels, hello renewables.
Renewable energies, such as wind, solar, hydro and geothermal are on the rise, but there’s a long way to go. You can send a clear message to governments and organisations by choosing a renewable energy supplier.
What can I actually do?
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Use less energy
Turn things down and switch stuff off. If you are on a variable tariff, then running household appliances overnight can make a difference.
Powering items down fully instead of leaving them idle or on standby can also save energy.
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Travel smarter
Using sustainable methods of travel, like public transport, is often cheaper and better for the planet.
Walking or cycling comes with added health and well-being benefits, and car sharing can make journeys more enjoyable as well as reduce fuel costs.
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Reduce your heating by one degree
Reducing the temperature of your home by one degree can reduce your heating bills by up to 10%. Over time it will also significantly reduce your carbon footprint. -
Reduce your boiler’s flow temperature
Check to see if you can lower your boiler’s flow temperature to 60°C. Many are currently installed with a flow temperature of between 70–80°C or even higher which is often unnecessary.
Energy - Doers
Can how I shop make a difference?
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Switch to green tariffs
Switch to a renewable energy supplier for example, Good Energy or Octopus.
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Buy energy efficient products
Look for low-energy products that reduce CO2 emissions by checking the energy rating label.
A-rated appliances are the most efficient. The label will also tell you how much energy will be consumed if you use it for 1,000 hours.
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Invest your money wisely
Check your investments, bank accounts and pensions to avoid unknowingly investing in fossil fuels.
Check the Bank Green website to see what your bank is investing in and switch to one that's in the Fossil Fuel Alliance.
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Upgrade to LED lighting
LED light bulbs are relatively cheap and often last much longer than incandescent bulbs.
Energy - Shoppers
How do I get the word out?
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Share your energy know-how
Share what you’ve discovered, for example, how you’ve cut your energy use. Post on social media, and speak to your neighbours, friends and family. -
Community power
Join a community energy group in your area or start one up. Sharing information about the costs and benefits of a community-run energy scheme can be a great way of starting the conversation around renewable energy. -
Use your platforms
Start conversations at work, school or in your community. Joining forces with like-minded people can help push for change.
At Eden, we have a network of Energy and Sustainability Champions from across the organisation.
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Vote for green initiatives
Voting to invest in renewable energies and stop the use of fossil fuels sends a clear message to leaders.
Joining political parties can help influence their policies.
Energy - Shouters
Can I find out more?
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Install a smart meter
You can’t manage what you can’t measure. Your energy and water suppliers should be able to install smart meters for free. You can then track how much you’re using and what it’s costing you in real time.
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Find out where your energy comes from
Ask your energy supplier where they get their energy from. Ask your local MP about their party’s energy policies and initiatives for your area.
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Follow our journey to climate positive
Learn what we’re doing to cut energy use and use renewables here at Eden. Visit our resources, sign up for our newsletters and follow us on social media.
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Visit trusted sources on energy matters
The Simple Energy Advice website (Gov.uk) explores money and energy saving for your home and in your area. The Energy Saving Trust, Citizens Advice and National Energy Action also provide lots of helpful tips and guides.
Energy - Learners
Eden's energy initiatives
Geothermal energy is the heat in the rock beneath our feet. Worldwide, natural spas have been enjoyed for millennia. In active volcanic and tectonic areas, like Iceland and Italy, hot rocks have been producing power for a hundred years.
In partnership with EGS Energy and Bestec UK, we set up a new company, Eden Geothermal Ltd, that has built a geothermal plant on our Cornwall site, using the heat from the granite underground.
On a site the size of a football pitch, close to the main gate, we have drilled a single well 5.3km deep into the rock. The geothermal plant will produce enough heat for Eden's Biomes and nursery, Growing Point. Eventually, the project will save at least 500 tonnes of greenhouse gases, as we reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and make significant steps in reducing our own carbon footprint.
Because generating geothermal power is not affected by the weather; it is 'on' 24 hours a day, with plants typically running over 90% of the time.
Most of our electricity on-site is supplied by Good Energy and comes from 100% guaranteed renewable sources.
To become more self-sufficient we’re installing additional rooftop solar panels across the workspace areas of our new Growing Point plant nursery. This will meet 4% of our electricity demand and save up to 31 tonnes of greenhouse gases each year.
We love our fleet of electric vehicles at the Cornwall site, which are used by a variety of teams. The vehicles have zero tailpipe emissions so can be used inside our Biomes.
We offer our visitors 20 dedicated charging points powered by 100% renewable energy. In its first year, our EV charging hub delivered over 3,000 EV charging sessions supplying 78,000 kWh of renewable electricity, helping our visitors to avoid 6.5 tonnes of greenhouse gases in travel emissions. We’ve invested in electrical infrastructure to increase the capacity for future EV charging demand and plan to supply the hub with the power we generate on-site.
We all have a role to play in conserving energy.
At Eden we have dedicated energy and sustainability champions from across the organisation. They are invited to suggest ideas for new initiatives across our Cornwall site. They’ve come up with well over 50 new energy-saving ideas so far with plenty more to come!
