Householders will find it much easier to go green with their choice of energy provider under new proposals. But fears remain that eco-friendly tariffs may be passed over for cheaper regular tariffs.

Consumers will be able to compare the environmental credentials of green electricity deals in an instant, if proposals from energy watchdog Ofgem and Energy Savings Trust (EST) go ahead. Under the plans, all green tariffs from energy providers are set to award a rating of one to five stars depending on the amount of carbon used and the environmental benefits.

"Our research shows that more than one-third of all households are interested in signing up to a green tariff, once the concept had been explained to them," says Philip Sellwood, chief executive of EST. "We need to make sure they get the best impartial advice to make informed choices."

Green tariffs ensure that either all or part of your electricity comes from renewable or potentially low carbon sources of generation; your supplier is investing in renewable energy or other environmental funds; or your supplier is taking other carbon offsetting actions.

Several electricity suppliers already have green offerings. British Gas recently launched its New Energy Business', Powergen introduced Go Green', and Npower has Juice'. But many green products are difficult to understand and vary hugely from company to company, making it hard to work out who's offering what.

This could be the reason why less than nine per cent of us choose an electricity supplier based on environmental considerations, says comparison and switching service, Simply Switch. Suppliers often have a wide range of measures in place allowing them to advertise their tariffs as green, but some have a far more positive effect on the environment than others.

"The green issue is more of a grey issue at present, so introducing a system to objectify the greenness of each tariff will be an important step forward," says Karen Darby, founder of Simply Switch.

Although the proposals have been welcomed by consumer groups, tackling carbon emissions is a costly business and there are concerns that householders may be put off green tariffs because they cannot compete in price with the very cheapest energy deals.

"It would be fantastic if the Government took steps to make green energy more affordable," says Darby. "Waiving VAT on the most eco-friendly tariffs would be an excellent way of achieving this."

Recent research from Ofgem reveals that plenty of us are willing to pay for lower carbon emissions. Many people say they would be prepared to pay up to £15 per year extra in their bills, while some would pay up to £100 more, but most believe suppliers should bear the lion's share of costs.

In the meantime, EST will push to ensure customers buying green energy are actually funding additional eco-friendly supplies, rather than just paying for the amount of renewable energy the Government already requires them to buy.

"Energy companies are obliged to provide a certain amount of renewable energy each year and they will only ever continue to do the bare minimum if consumers continue to snub green plans," says Anne Robinson, consumer policy director at comparison service uSwitch. "This is all about removing the get-out clause and ensuring that everyone is able to play their part."

The Echo has teamed up with SimplySwitch to provide all our readers with a free energy price check. To check you're getting a good deal, call 0800 011 1432 or log on to www.householdmoneysaver.com