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EarthFriendly FAQs

What is EarthFriendly?
What is the Greenhouse Friendly program?
Why is it important to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?
Why does EarthFriendly cost more?
How does EarthFriendly reduce the greenhouse gas emissions?
Can Synergy contribute to any project that reduces greenhouse gas emissions?
How are the greenhouse gas emissions calculated?
How many options are there?
Can I be on EarthFriendly if I have a time-based tariff?
What if my business is already on a contract with Synergy?
Can I have EarthFriendly on a subsidiary meter?
How do you calculate how much EarthFriendly I use?
If I decide to take EarthFriendly, can I change my mind?
What if my business moves address?
What happens if I change my business tariff e.g. L1 to R1?

What is EarthFriendly?

EarthFriendly is actually generated in the traditional way, but we offset all emissions created in the mining, generation, transmission and use of the energy sold under EarthFriendly by contributing to greenhouse gas reduction programs. So in effect EarthFriendly is greenhouse gas emission neutral.

What is the Greenhouse Friendly Program?

The Greenhouse Friendly Program is a government certification program administered by the Australian Greenhouse Office. It’s designed to help you identify products and businesses that have minimal environmental impact.
EarthFriendly is the only certified Greenhouse Friendly energy product in WA. To achieve certification, EarthFriendly can only invest in abatement projects that have been rigorously assessed and approved by the Greenhouse Friendly Program. So when you see this logo, you can be sure that the product is making a positive difference to our environment. For more information please visit the Greenhouse Friendly website.

Why is it important to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?

Put simply, greenhouse gas emissions contribute to global warming. Global warming occurs when there is a build up of greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere. The gases trap the heat from the sun, much like a locked car on a hot day, leading to an increase in the earth's temperature. Just a one-degree rise in the Earth’s temperature can have a major impact upon life on this planet.

Why does EarthFriendly cost more?

Synergy offsets the emissions created by generating EarthFriendly energy by supporting certified greenhouse gas reduction projects. This adds to the cost of your energy.

How does EarthFriendly reduce the greenhouse gas emissions?

Synergy contributes the extra money you pay to greenhouse gas reduction projects certified by the Greenhouse Friendly Program.
For example, methane, produced by decomposing materials in landfill sites (old rubbish tips etc), is 21 times worse for the atmosphere than carbon dioxide. So to offset the greenhouse gas emissions we create, we are currently contributing to projects that extract and burn this methane to prevent it reaching the atmosphere.
 

Can Synergy contribute to any project that reduces greenhouse gas emissions?

No. The Greenhouse Friendly Programme has very strict criteria for certification. For example, projects cannot be certified if they are conducted to satisfy legislation, commercial needs or if they have received state or federal funding. The project must have been specifically set-up to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

How are the greenhouse gas emissions calculated?

Under the Greenhouse Friendly Program the full life-cycle emissions are calculated. A full life-cycle assessment covers the emissions generated in:

• the extraction and processing of coal and gas
• transporting them to the power stations
• preparing and moving the fuels within the power stations
• energy used in the power stations to run the station
• generating the electricity
• transmitting the electricity to our customers
• using the electricity

Synergy is using the published Australian Greenhouse Office (AGO) greenhouse intensity figure as found in the AGO Factors and Methods Workbook. This figure is currently 0.936 kg CO2e per kWh sold.  

Why is everything measured in CO2e, and what about other gases?

There are many other gases emitted during the life-cycle of electricity, but to ensure all the calculations are based on a single measure, CO2e (carbon-dioxide equivalent) is used as a base for all emission calculations. As an example, 1kg of Methane (CH4) converts to approximately 21 kg of CO2e.
All the conversion figures used for EarthFriendly are those published by the Australian Greenhouse Office.

How many options are there?

You can choose from 10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% EarthFriendly – whichever best suits your business.

Can I be on EarthFriendly if I have a time-based tariff?

Yes. EarthFriendly can be used in conjunction with any existing Synergy tariff. However, it is not possible to purchase both EarthFriendly and NaturalPower.

What if my business is already on a contract with Synergy?

EarthFriendly is compatible with existing contracts, so you can continue with your contract and still take up EarthFriendly.

Can I have EarthFriendly on a subsidiary meter?

No. Only main meters are eligible for EarthFriendly.  If you think EarthFriendly would be acceptable for all tenants in the building, the best thing to do is approach your landlord or Body Corporate and bring it up with them.

How do you calculate how much EarthFriendly I use?

Synergy's billing system takes your total metered consumption and splits this according to the percentage of Earth Friendly that you have nominated. The EarthFriendly portion is then charged at the standard price plus the premium, while the remainder is charged at the standard price. This will be itemised on your bill.

If I decide to take EarthFriendly, can I change my mind?

Yes, you can cancel or amend your EarthFriendly purchase by contacting us on 13 13 54. Your cancellation or amendment will be backdated to the first day of the billing period in which your cancellation was processed. No cancellation or amendment fees apply.

What if my business moves address?

You need to let us know if you would like to continue purchasing EarthFriendly, so that we can ensure you are signed up at your new address.

What happens if I change my business tariff e.g. L1 to R1?

When you change the tariff, make sure you let us know that you would like to continue purchasing EarthFriendly.