Don't Be Enticed By These “Trends” About Green Power

What Is Green Power? Green power is the electricity generated from renewable sources and does not release pollutants. Many households have access to utility-branded green products. You can find third-party-certified choices by state. Solar panels can be installed on the roofs of superstores, warehouses, and factories to generate their own energy source that is clean and renewable. Companies with large fleets of vehicles could opt to switch to electric vehicles. Renewable Energy Sources Solar energy, wind energy and water are all renewable sources of energy. They replenish themselves in a natural manner over time, unlike fossil fuels, such as oil and coal, which are limited resources that will eventually exhaust themselves. Renewables are a greener option to generate electricity since they do not emit harmful greenhouse gases. The most common form of green power is generated by hydropower plants. Water covers 71 percent of the Earth's surface. When it travels through a process of evaporation and rain, it produces natural energy. This process can be harnessed through the use of turbines that generate electricity. Geothermal, solar and wind are also renewable energy. Green energy can also be generated by using solar heat to warm up water in boilers and other appliances. It is also possible to produce it through the production of biodiesel or ethanol out of crop and plant waste. Many communities depend on renewables for more electricity. This includes large offshore wind farms, as well as solar panels for homes that can sell surplus energy back to the grid. There are a myriad of renewable energy sources that can be used to produce green power but not all are in the same way. To be green, a source has to be low-emissions or zero-emissions or not emit greenhouse gasses during its lifecycle (i.e. manufacturing installations, installation, and land use). Choose renewable electricity that has been certified by a third-party. This type of power can be produced through wind power, solar power, biogas, geothermal energy, certain forms of biomass, and even small hydroelectric sources that have minimal impact. It's readily available in all markets and provides consumers with a simple and effective way to make an impact on the environment. This type of electricity is an excellent option to replace traditional energy sources and decrease carbon emissions. Energy Efficiency Energy efficiency refers to technologies and practices that use less energy to produce the same quantity of goods and services. This includes reducing waste in production processes and improving the design of vehicles, buildings and appliances. Energy efficient methods also reduce greenhouse gas emissions, dependence on fossil fuels as well as pollution of the air and water. They can also help decouple growth in energy consumption and GDP. DNREC offers a variety of energy efficiency programs for schools, businesses and local governments. They include the Energy Efficiency Investment Fund (EEIF) and the Energy Efficiency Industrial (E2I) Program. These programs offer grants and loans with low interest to encourage non-residential improvements in energy efficiency. In addition, DNREC also offers rebates and tax credits for improvements to energy efficiency in homes. Energy efficiency is a key element in achieving ambitious goals for climate change when paired with renewable energy. According to IEA scenarios if cost-effective measures of energy efficiency were put into place in all areas where could make a significant difference in the global GHG emission would peak before 2030 and would peak by 2040. This would amount to more than 40% the total GHG abatement required to limit temperature increases below 1.5 degrees Celsius. In the future, countries will have to double the rate of improvement in energy efficiency. This will be the only way to achieve the climate mitigation goals laid in the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals. This will require the integration of energy efficiency into plans, policies and major investment decisions at all levels of government and society, as well as making it a priority for business, investors and consumers. Energy efficiency is a crucial part of green power, which blends renewable energy sources with energy efficiency to offer an environmentally friendly and carbon-free alternative to traditional electricity. Renewable sources include solar, wind geothermal, eligible biomass, and small hydroelectric sources with low impact. Renewable energy must be combined with energy efficiency, either as an item or service. On the internet, you can locate green power companies. The process of switching is fast and simple. Some providers even offer an “cooling off” period to allow customers to consider whether they want to change supplier. Greenhouse Gas Emissions When fossil fuels are burned, greenhouse gas emissions are released, including carbon dioxide. These gases hold heat in the atmosphere and trigger climate change. Human activities account for a large proportion of greenhouse gas emissions. Climate change is a serious economic and environmental risk, according to several studies. One way to cut greenhouse gas emissions is to make use of less fossil fuel energy. You can also generate electricity from renewable energy sources. The primary source of greenhouse gas emissions is generated by electricity generation. In the United States more than half of energy is generated by coal-fired power stations. Producing electricity using renewable sources, such as wind, solar, geothermal and small hydro that is low-impact is significantly less greenhouse gas emissions. Residential and commercial buildings, as well as transportation are also a source of greenhouse gas emission. Commercial and residential buildings use significant amounts of energy to provide heating air conditioning, ventilation and heating as well as lighting, appliances and plug loads and other functions. “Green” methods of construction and retrofits can help buildings use less energy, resulting in lower greenhouse gas emissions. Transport activities release greenhouse gases from the burning fossil fuels used to power cars, trucks and trains as well as planes and ships. Reduced emissions can be achieved by replacing gasoline-powered vehicles with hybrid electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Increasing fuel efficiency can also reduce the emissions from transportation. Utilizing renewable sources of energy to power transportation (such as biofuels, electric or natural gas with low carbon) can further reduce emissions. Activities related to waste disposal and agriculture generate methane, which is an extremely greenhouse gas. Methane can be produced from livestock and other practices of animal farming, land use, and the breakdown of organic garbage in municipal solid waste landfills. Reduced methane sources emissions can aid in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Utility Green Power Products Many utilities offer green energy options to their customers. These are available from 50 to 100 percent renewable energy and are available in addition to regular energy supply options. Contacting your utility can provide more information to customers. These products can help support the advancement of greener, more sustainable energy sources. Renewable Energy Costs The price of alternative energy sources continues to decrease as the world works towards the goal of 100% renewable power by 2050. Wind and solar power are among the most affordable sources of electricity available. The cost of levelization, also known as LCOE is expected to continue decreasing as technology matures and new projects are developed. The initial costs of renewable energy sources could be higher than fossil fuels but the savings over time will offset the initial cost. Renewable energy is a fantastic way to produce clean energy at a reasonable cost and with less environmental impacts. They also decrease the risk of health problems of respiratory illnesses caused by coal and generate jobs to boost the economy. They also provide consumers with stable prices for energy. While the initial cost of building renewable facilities is usually more expensive than fossil-fuel plants, they can be operated at very affordable costs once they are built (as their “fuel” is free). Studies have shown that the average home's electricity costs will decrease once they make the switch to renewable energy. The majority of renewable energy sources are more affordable and require less infrastructure to deploy than conventional power plants. In addition, the ongoing capital costs for renewable energy could be reduced through rebates and incentives from the government. Furthermore, high interest rates have dramatically increased the cost of capital-intensive renewable energy projects, however Morningstar estimates that the future interest rates will be lower, reducing these costs. It's not possible to perform a comprehensive analysis of the cost versus benefits of a 100percent renewable electricity system, but preliminary research suggests that it may have some significant advantages. Jesse Jenkins, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, conducted a study which found that limiting renewable energy sources to nondispatchable sources like onshore and solar energy results in higher policy cost than a simple low-carbon electricity goal. Customers who favor green energy can choose green power in New York. A typical green power plan will include sources of energy such as renewable wind, biomass hydroelectricity, solar and wind. While electric wheel scooter are not currently used to supply all the electricity used in the State, they can provide a substantial portion. Choosing a green power option helps to create a more sustainable and resilient energy mix for the State of New York.