UK energy providers are being urged to do more to promote renewable energy after a survey commissioned by ENGIE revealed just 1% of the population is on a green tariff.
Half of the respondents said this was because they thought that bills would rise, with 80% revealing that price is their main consideration when choosing an energy tariff.
This is despite years of education and falling prices, with some green energy tariffs now offering to put every unit of electricity used back into the grid from a renewable source with no additional cost.
“With so few people choosing green energy tariffs, it is the responsibility of energy providers and the wider industry to offer solutions which appeal to and persuade consumers,” ENGIE home energy business CEO, Paul Rawson, said.
One-fifth of the respondents admitted to doing nothing environmentally friendly over the last year, while those based in London were similarly apathetic, with 90% rating saving money as more important.
These findings reflect those found by cardboard supplier Rajapack, which show approximately one in six Londoners do not recycle most of their household waste, despite 70% thinking their council makes it easy.
It was also found that 47% of British adults believe they do not recycle as much as they should do, with a lack of knowledge thought to be responsible, particularly in Wales.
However, the main reason given in the North East for not recycling more was a lack of bins and bags – a barrier that was also largely cited by students.
With Earth Overshoot Day – the date on which humanity’s resource consumption exceeds Earth’s capacity to generate them – coming earlier this year than any other (August 2), there are now calls for an increased recycling effort.
“We can’t simply make excuses any more – the clock is ticking and future generations need to act and act now,” Rajapack ecommerce marketing manager, Andrew Wood, said.
“There’s also a need for a more standardised approach across councils as to what items can and can’t be recycled.”
