Natural Grocery Store switches to 'organic' electricity

Cheltenham's Natural Grocery Store (NGS) is joining the fight against climate change by switching its electricity supply to Ecotricity, to reduce Carbon Dioxide emissions. Ecotricity, based in Stroud, is Europe's first and largest 'green' electricity company and other local customers include Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education, Gloucester Rugby Club, Gloucester County and City Councils, and the Everyman Theatre.

With Ecotricity NGS is saving the environment 20 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year, which would otherwise be emitted from the burning of fossil fuels to generate electricity.

Paul Lewis and Mike Fisher opened The Natural Grocery Store in May 1998 to offer people food and products made from natural ingredients. Three years on and they now employ six staff at the 1,000 sq ft supermarket, which sells environmentally friendly toiletries and household cleaning products as well as organically grown vegetables, supporting ethical trading wherever possible.

Ecotricity is available at the same price as conventional electricity and is generated from sources that are less polluting and more sustainable, including wind, hydro and landfill gas. Ecotricity's mission is environmental improvement, specifically combating climate change, by building new renewable sources of energy, primarily wind power.

Proprietor Paul Lewis says of the move to 'green' electricity, "Both Mike and I have been committed to using natural, organic produce for over 15 years and we are delighted that we can now use more sustainable energy sources to power the shop."

Managing Director of Ecotricity, Dale Vince, who is himself vegan and a keen advocate of organic food and products, welcomes NGS as a new customer.