Green Electricity Watch makes it easy to make the switch

Tuesday, 09 October 2007 02:31

With climate change at the forefront of national debate, Australia’s leading environment groups have commissioned Green Electricity Watch 2007 (GEW) to help consumers understand which GreenPower products perform best for the environment, as well as offer value for money.  Overall, products from Origin Energy, ActewAGL and Climate Friendly received the highest Green Electricity Watch rankings.

Commissioned by WWF-Australia, the Total Environment Centre and the Australian Conservation Foundation, Green Electricity Watch (www.greenelectricitywatch.org.au) 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 GEW 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.

The 2007 GEW report and fact sheets can be found at www.greenelectricitywatch.org.au

For more information or to arrange an interview contact: 
ACF:  James Norman 0415 248 768 or Phil Freeman 0438 043 049; TEC:  Jeff Angel or Jane Castle (02) 9261 3437 or 0432 287 554; WWF-Australia: Nicole Ikenberg 0414 417 959 or Adam Harper 0419 168 023
www.greenelectricitywatch.org.au