Renewable energy & the fight against climate change
Advertisement feature written by Good Energy.
Hello, we’re Good Energy.
We’re a proud partner of the Soil Association and share their commitment to helping create a greener world.
Good Energy was founded over two decades ago to provide people with a way to be part of a practical solution to climate change. We supply 100% renewable electricity generated from the sun, wind and water here in Britain. And we also work with farmers to supply renewable biogas, which makes up 10% of our carbon-neutral gas.
This November, we took our message out to more people than ever before by launching our first ever TV advert.
We wanted to share some of the behind-the-scenes details with Soil Association readers. And, if you’re inspired to join us, use the referral code SA 2020 to get £50 credit — and we’ll donate £50 to the Soil Association, too.
Where can you see the advert?
The creative idea for the advert is a school science fair, in which children present models of the impacts of climate breakdown. Another child presents a model of a green world powered by renewables. It talks about how we all have the power to help create a greener world together.
If you haven’t seen the advert on TV yet (or want to see it again), watch the advert here.
Why have we released an advert now?
The pause in ‘normal’ life caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown into sharp relief the many ways humans affect the world. During the first 6 months of 2020 when many countries were in lockdown, the world experienced an 8.8% reduction in carbon emissions compared to the same period in 20191.
This is a huge, unprecedented drop — but won’t solve the climate crisis on its own. To meet the Paris Climate Agreement, high carbon emitting countries like the UK need to keep bringing emissions down.
Despite the pandemic, concern about the climate crisis has increased2. With campaigns such as Build Back Better, people are hoping that economies can rebuild in a way that is greener and fairer.
With our advert, we wanted to remind people that the climate crisis is impacting our world already, and that through supporting practical solutions like green, renewable energy, we all have the power to help tackle it.
Limiting the environmental impact of filming
We worked with Bristol-based purpose-driven marketing agency Enviral to create our advert. They put sustainability first in everything they do, with standard shoot requirements including:
- Recording and offsetting crew travel
- Where possible, sourcing equipment and hiring crew and talent from the area around the shooting location
- Sustainable catering, from no single use plastic to providing locally sourced vegan and vegetarian options
- Filming in studios powered by 100% renewable electricity, or using generators with high eco credentials for filming on location.
Keeping everyone Covid safe
The Good Energy advert was filmed at a community centre near Bristol. At the time of filming, the region was not under any additional Covid-19 restrictions.
A full Covid safety procedure was in place, with a Covid safety officer on the production crew making sure all measures were kept to. These included temperature checks, maintaining social distancing among crew members, enhanced hygiene, wearing face coverings and face shields and staggered call times to limit the amount of people on set.
More information
If you want to dig into the details, read our blog about the research and reports that back up the ideas explored in the advert.
Switch today
Choosing clean power generated from renewable sources is one of the biggest things you can do to help fight the climate crisis. Get a quote for 100% renewable electricity and carbon neutral gas and start your switch.
Remember to input your referral code SA 2020 when prompted at the online checkout. Once we’re supplying you, we’ll add £50 credit to your energy account and donate £50 to the Soil Association.
Alternatively, get a quote and switch by calling the Good Energy team on 0800 254 0004 (9am-5pm, Mon-Fri), remembering to quote SA 2020.
Footnotes
1 Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact, reported in Science Daily on 14.10.20
2 ”Concern about climate change has gone up, not down”, Climate Outreach, 10.8.20