Share Sounds. related to Personal Finance - Energy

Almost everyone is in favor of advancements in green energy. But we’re still a long way off from cleaner sources being able to take over from more traditional forms of energy, like fossil fuels. If we were to make the switch now, it would inevitably mean moving from a high-energy society to a low-energy society. But what would this mean in practice? Today we’re speaking with the IEA’s Head of Education, Dr Steve Davies. Steve paints a picture of radical changes that would have to be made in order to adapt to a low-energy society. Two major changes include a return to agriculture focus in local areas, with over 30 per cent of the population needing to return to the farms to make sure communities could be fed. Furthermore, it would almost certainly mean the return of traditional gender roles, as it was the many advancements in energy in particular, that enabled women to liberate themselves out of the home and into the workforce. And while many people who advocate for a low-energy society seem to think that the things they like will continue, while the things they loathe will be scrapped, Steve argues that many conveniences, and indeed miracles, of modern society – like international plane travel and use of the internet – would be wiped out almost completely, with only the world’s elite having access to such luxuries.

Georgie Frost is joined by financial heavy weights Lindsay Cook and Andy Webb. This week they take on the malfunctioning smart meters charging people as much as seven times their normal bill. Plus why insurance companies are getting the sucker punch this week and is it really a good idea to pay off your student debt?

Welcome to the This is Money Show on Share Radio. The UK parties are now getting into full election mode and already we’ve seen a range of policy suggestions, debates and u-turns appearing. From energy price caps to scrapping death duty hikes we’ll but looking at what all these could mean for the finances of voters. Also weighing in on the French election and GDP Georgie Frost is joined by Editor Simon Lambert and Personal Finance Editor Rachel Rickard Straus. Plus it’s your final week to spend the old paper five pound note.

Welcome to the This is Money Show on Share Radio, brought to you in partnership with NS&I. After repeatedly ruling out a general election this week Theresa May made the shock announcement Britain would be heading to the polls, again. The election is set to be dominated by Brexit but there is certainly more at stake. To explain what the vote could mean for the pound in your pocket and what you should be looking for from your future MP Georgie Frost is joined by Editor Simon Lambert and Consumer Affairs Editor Lee Boyce. Plus it's not just politicians we're being encouraged to switch as we look at the benefits of shopping around for a better broadband and energy deal.

Three of Britain's biggest consumer groups Money Saving Expert, Which? and Citizens Advice wrote an open letter to the Prime Minister after she was was accused of "forgetting" about consumers in her Brexit negotiations. They want her to set up a cross-Government high-level working group focused solely on securing the best deal for customers. So what will the triggering of Article 50 mean for us? And how will our exit from the EU impact the pound in our pockets? To find out more Georgie Frost was joined by Jasmine Birtles - financial and business commentator from Money Magpie .

In part two of our look at the zero emissions car industry Tom Hill looks at the challenges facing the industry and the options available to buyers. Could hydrogen provide the ideal solution? And what might transportation of the future actually resemble?

Could an eco-friendly loan from the US have global implications? In "The Problem With PACE", a special report on Share Radio, Matt Cox investigates so-called PACE loans. He speaks to those who've had first-hand experience of the loans; finding out where the product came from, how it hurt homeowners in California and other states, and why some believe that it could trigger a new subprime-style lending crisis.

Could an eco-friendly loan from California have global implications? In the second part of Share Radio's Special Report into so-called PACE loans, Matt Cox investigates why some of those familiar with the product believe it's set to trigger a new subprime lending crisis.

Could a green energy loan in a few US states have global implications? In a special report, Matt Cox investigates the worrying whispers surrounding "PACE" loans, the effect it's had on California, and why it matters to the wider world - even us Brits across the Atlantic.

Companies vying to build nuclear power stations in the UK have been told they must offer lower electricity prices than that approved for the Hinkley Point plant last year. Government officials have indicated that future projects will be expected to deliver a discount of at least 15-20% on the price of electricity from the £18bn Hinkley plant in Somerset - a settlement widely criticised for its high cost. To discuss this further, Dr Jenifer Baxter, Head of Energy and Environment at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, joined Nigel Cassidy on Share Radio Breakfast.