Greater Manchester Combined Authority have a pioneering green energy campaign: The GM Big Clean Switch Campaign.
The scheme is designed to help save money while having a positive impact on the environment.
The scheme is a partnership between the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the Big Clean Switch campaign, which specialises in helping UK households switch to 100% renewable electricity. The programme is funded through commission paid by suppliers. This doesn’t affect the tariffs available, which will always be the same or better than those on the suppliers’ own websites, and a third of the money will be used by the GMCA to help fund environmental projects across the region.
This campaign can help you save money by switching your fuel tariff to a renewable energy tariff, it doesn’t take long to do it either!
Politicians from across Greater Manchester have switched their homes to clean electricity as part of this campaign to save residents money on their energy bills and help the environment at the same time.
As well as all 10 Greater Manchester local authorities, a host of other organisations from across the city including GM NHS, football clubs, universities and businesses are backing the Greater Manchester Big Clean Switch campaign, the first of its kind in the UK.
The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has joined Bury Council leader Cllr Rishi Shori and Stockport Deputy Mayor Cllr Walter Brett in calling for residents to use the scheme to take advantage of ultra-competitive renewable energy tariffs. The three of them have collectively saved over £1,000 a year by switching their homes to the cheapest clean deals.
For Andy, the clean energy campaign is part of meeting his ambition to make Greater Manchester one of the leading green cities in Europe:
“If just one in 100 homes across Greater Manchester switches to a clean tariff, that’s the carbon emissions equivalent of taking more than 10,000 cars off the road,” Andy said. “At the same time, I was genuinely surprised at how much we were able to save by switching our own home. If we can help others do the same, we can make Greater Manchester a cleaner, greener, more affordable city to live.”
Speaking from his home in Bury, Cllr Shori said:
“There’s a common perception that renewable electricity is eye-wateringly expensive and that switching is a hassle. That couldn’t be further from the truth. It took me less than five minutes to get a quote and switch, and we saved over £300. This is a fantastic scheme for the people of Bury, and puts Greater Manchester on the map as a clean energy pioneer.”
A dedicated Greater Manchester Big Clean Switch website, www.bigcleanswitch.org/gm, has been set up to help residents compare clean energy prices and switch.
The average household saving for switching through this campaign is £304 a year.
Cllr Brett said:
“I was delighted to discover that I will save a whopping £419 a year by joining the Big Clean Switch. Just as important is the knowledge that we’re now buying 100% renewable electricity. I would encourage everyone to join the Big Clean Switch, it’s good for your pocket and the environment.”
Here’s what some of the other people who took part in the pilot said:
“The savings I made were very, very substantial.” – Amer, Cheadle (saved £494/year)
“We’ll save around £500 a year.” – Lynden & Katie, Stockport (saved £531/year)
“The process was really easy.” – Jack, Manchester (saved £110/year)
“Just click, click, click – five minutes and done.” – Anna, Altrincham (saved £155/year)
In addition to all 10 local authorities in Greater Manchester, other local organisations backing the campaign include:
· Adactus Homes
· Barlcays Eagle Labs
· 95.6 Bolton FM
· Bolton Wanderers FC
· Carbon Co-op
· Manchester City of Trees
· Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce
· Greater Manchester Community Renewables
· Greater Manchester Centre for Voluntary Organisation
· I Love MCR
· Manchester Climate Change Agency
· Manchester Metropolitan University
· NHS in Greater Manchester
· Onward Housing
· Pro-Manchester
· Salford Red Devils
· University of Salford
So what next?
Click on www.bigcleanswitch.org/gm and start switching! If you do it and save, spread the word!