We are all aware of the threat global warming poses to our environment. The emission of green house gases has created a blanket around our Earth which is preventing heat from escaping; as the world gets hotter, our weather systems change causing tremendous damage to our eco-systems.

The main gas responsible for global warming is carbon dioxide, produced when we burn fuel such as oil, coal and gas. We perform these processes in order to produce energy for our homes and for our industries.

However, burning fossil fuels is not the only efficient means of making our electricity. There are many sources of energy which we can use to power our lives and which do not produce harmful bi-products. Additionally these sources are renewable, meaning that are not depleted over time and do not involve the destruction of our environment in their use.

Step out on a hot, sunny day and you will experience the power of the sun’s heat and light. That is solar energy and it can be used to heat your home, generate your own electricity, or dry your clothes. It is easy to switch to solar power; all you have to do is buy solar panels which you can put on your rooftop, which store energy so that they don’t only work on sunny days! Since solar energy is free, this can be a great way to save money too.

Other types of clean renewable energy include hydropower (the use of water to produce power) and wind power. Hydropower works by capturing the energy produced when water flows and converting it into electricity. Similarly the energy created when the wind turns a turbine or windmill can be transferred into energy which can be used in homes or in the workplace.

Many energy providers have realised the potential of these sources are investing heavily in their development. For example, British Gas plans to invest £1.5 billion in wind farms over 5 years. One of its sponsored wind farm sites is the world's largest offshore wind farm project.

You can do your bit to help slow down global warming, not only by purchasing solar panels but also by ensuring that your energy provider has committed to supporting green technologies.

Have a look at the British Gas website for information on gas supply.