10 Misconceptions Your Boss Holds Regarding Green Power

What Is Green Power? Green power is electricity produced from renewable sources and does not emit pollutant emissions. Many households have access to utility-branded green power products and can locate third-party certified options by state here. Solar panels can be erected on the roofs of warehouses, superstores, and factories to generate their own clean energy. Companies with fleets of vehicles can convert to electric vehicles. Renewable Energy Sources Renewable energy sources include sunlight water, wind, and Earth's heat (geothermal). They replenish themselves in a natural manner over time, unlike fossil fuels like coal and oil that are finite resources that eventually end up being depleted. Renewable energy is a healthier alternative to generate electricity since they don't produce harmful greenhouse gases when they are burned. The most well-known form of green power is produced by hydropower plants. Seventy-one percent of Earth's surface is covered by water, and as it moves through a continual cycle of raining and evaporating it generates natural energy. This process can be harnessed by redirecting water through turbines which generate electricity. Wind, solar, and geothermal are also renewable energy sources. Green energy can also be generated through solar energy to warm the water in boilers and other appliances. It can also be produced by producing ethanol or biodiesel out of crop and plant waste. Many communities are now relying on renewables to supply more of their energy, from huge offshore wind farms to solar panels for homes that can sell excess energy back to the grid. There are a myriad of renewable energy sources that can be utilized to generate green power, not all are created equal. To be considered green, a resource must be either zero-emissions or low-emissions during its operation, and must not emit greenhouse gases during the lifecycle of the product (i.e., manufacturing installations, installation, and land use). Choose renewable electricity that has been certified by a third-party. This kind of electricity is produced through wind, solar biogas, geothermal and other forms of biomass and low-impact small hydroelectric sources. It's available in all markets, and offers consumers a simple and effective method to make an environmental impact that is positive. This type of electricity is a great way to replace traditional energy sources and reduce carbon emissions. Energy Efficiency Energy efficiency refers specifically to technologies and practices that use less energy to produce the same amount of goods and services. This includes reducing waste in production processes and improving the design of buildings, vehicles and appliances. Energy-efficient technologies also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel dependence as well as pollutants in the air and water. They can also help to break the link between GDP and energy use growth. DNREC offers a range of energy efficiency-related programs to schools, businesses and local governments. The Energy Efficiency Industrial (E2I), and the Energy Efficiency Fund (EEIF) are two of the programs that DNREC offers. These programs offer grants and low-interest loans to promote non-residential energy efficiency upgrades. DNREC offers rebates and tax credits for residential energy efficiency upgrades. In conjunction with renewable energy sources, energy efficiency is an important component of achieving high ambition climate goals. According to IEA scenarios, if cost-effective measures of energy efficiency were implemented in all sectors that they could make a significant impact, global GHG emissions would peak before 2030 and would peak by 2040. This would be more than 40% of the total GHG reduction needed to keep temperature rises below 1.5 degrees Celsius. In the near future, countries are expected to double their rate of improvement in energy efficiency. Only then can the goals for climate mitigation and Sustainable Development Goals be achieved. This will require integrating energy efficiency into all plans, policies, and major investment decisions, and making it the top priority for consumers, businesses and investors. Energy efficiency is a key component of green power, which combines renewables with energy efficiency to provide an environmentally friendly and carbon-free alternative to traditional electricity. green mobility scooter include solar, wind, geothermal, eligible biomass and small hydroelectric sources with low impact. Renewable energy must be combined with energy efficiency, either as a product or service. On the internet, you can find green power companies. The process of switching is quick and simple. Some providers offer a two-week 'cooling off' period to allow customers to decide if they want to change their supplier. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide, are emitted when fossil fuels are burned. These gases trap heat and can cause changes in the climate. Human activities account for a large portion of the total greenhouse gas emissions. Climate change poses a major environmental and economic risk according to numerous studies. Reducing the use of fossil fuels for energy is one method to reduce greenhouse gases. Another is to generate electricity using renewable energy sources. Electricity generation is the largest source of greenhouse gases. In the United States more than half of all energy is produced by coal-fired power stations. Electricity produced from renewable sources like geothermal, wind, solar and small hydro with low impact produces significantly less greenhouse gases. Other sources of greenhouse gas emissions are residential and commercial buildings, as well as transportation. Residential and commercial buildings use huge amounts of energy for heating, ventilation and air conditioning as well as lighting, appliances and plug loads and many other purposes. Retrofits and “green” building methods can help these buildings consume significantly less energy. This will result in less greenhouse emissions. Transport activities release greenhouse gases from the burning fossil fuels for cars, trucks and trains, as well as ships and planes. The reduction of these emissions can be achieved by replacing gasoline powered vehicles with hydrogen or electric fuel cell or hybrid electric automobiles. The improvement in fuel efficiency can reduce emissions from transportation. Using renewable sources of energy to power transportation (such as electric, biofuels or natural gas with low carbon) can further reduce emissions. Activities related to waste disposal and agriculture produce methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. Methane is produced by livestock and other animal farming practices as well as land use and the breakdown of organic wastes in municipal solid waste landfills. Reduced greenhouse gas emissions could be achieved by reducing these sources of methane. Utility Green Power Products Many utilities offer green options for their customers. These options are available in an array of 50 to 100 percent renewable energy. They are available as an alternative to conventional energy supply options. Contacting your utility for more information to customers. These products are a great way to assist in the development of cleaner, greener energy sources. Renewable Energy Costs The price of alternative energy continues to drop as the world tries to reach an objective of 100 renewable energy by 2050. Solar and wind power are among the cheapest electricity sources available. The levelized cost, also known as LCOE is expected to decrease as technology matures and new projects are created. Compared to fossil fuels, the upfront costs of renewable energy plants are still higher but long-term savings can help offset these initial costs. Renewable energy sources can provide inexpensive, clean energy with significantly less environmental impact than traditional fossil fuels. They can also lower the risk of health problems associated with respiratory illnesses caused by coal and generate jobs to boost the economy. Additionally, they provide affordable energy prices to consumers. Although the initial cost of building renewable facilities is usually more expensive than fossil-fuel plants, they operate at a very low cost once built (as their “fuel” is free). In fact, studies show that the average household's energy bills will be lower after they make the switch to renewables. This is because most renewable energy sources require less infrastructure than conventional power plants and can be installed quickly across the country. In addition the ongoing capital costs for renewable energy could be reduced by government incentives and rebates. In addition, high interest rates have significantly increased the cost of capital-intensive renewable energy projects however, Morningstar estimates that future interest rates will be lower, which will help reduce these costs. It is not yet possible to perform a comprehensive analysis of the costs versus benefits of a 100percent renewable power system, but preliminary research suggests that it may have certain advantages. Jesse Jenkins, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, conducted a study which found that limiting renewables to nondispatchable sources, such as solar and onshore winds results in higher policy cost than a simple low-carbon electricity goal. Customers who support cleaner energy can choose green power in New York. A typical green power plan makes use of energy from renewable sources like wind, biomass solar, hydroelectricity, and solar. These alternatives can be used to generate a significant amount of the electricity used in New York. Selecting a green power option helps to create a more sustainable and resilient energy mix for the State of New York.