What Is Green Power?
Green power is electricity derived from sources that are naturally replenished and don't release pollutants. Many households have access to utility-branded green power and can locate third-party certified options by state here.
Warehouses, superstores and factories can be fitted with solar panels on their roofs to generate their own clean energy. Companies with fleets of vehicles can switch to electric vehicles.
Renewable Energy Sources
Renewable energy sources include sunlight, wind, water and the Earth's heat (geothermal). They replenish themselves in a natural way over time, in contrast to fossil fuels, such as oil and coal that are finite resources that will eventually run out. Renewables are a greener option to generate electricity since they do not emit harmful greenhouse gases.
Hydropower plants are the most well-known source of green energy. Water covers 71 percent of Earth's surface. When it travels through a cycle of rain and evaporation it generates energy from nature. This process can be harnessed with the use of turbines that generate electricity. Wind, solar, and geothermal are also types of renewable energy sources.
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 by generating biodiesel or ethanol from plant and crop waste. Many communities are now relying on renewables to provide more electricity, ranging from huge offshore wind farms to solar panels on homes that are able to sell excess energy back to the grid.
There are a myriad of renewable energy sources that can be used to produce green power, not all are created to be equal. To be considered green, a source has to be zero-emissions or low-emissions when it is in operation, and must not emit greenhouse gases during the lifecycle of the product (i.e., manufacturing, installation and land use).
A good way to make sure that you're using green power is to use renewable electricity that is certified by a third party. This kind of electricity can be generated by solar power, wind power, biogas, geothermal energy, certain types of biomass and small hydroelectric sources with low impact. It's readily available in all markets and provides consumers with a simple and effective method to make a positive environmental impact. This type of electricity can replace traditional forms of energy and reduce carbon emissions, which is an important step towards a more sustainable future.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency refers specifically to technologies and practices that use less energy to produce the same amount of products and services. This means reducing waste in production processes and improving the design of buildings, vehicles and appliances. Energy efficient methods also reduce greenhouse gas emissions, dependency on fossil fuels and air and water pollution. They also aid in separating the growth in GDP and energy consumption.
DNREC offers a variety of energy efficiency programs for businesses, schools and local governments. They include the Energy Efficiency Investment Fund (EEIF) and the Energy Efficiency Industrial (E2I) Program. These programs provide grants and loans with low interest to encourage non-residential improvement in energy efficiency. In addition, DNREC also offers rebates and tax credits for improvements to energy efficiency in homes.
Energy efficiency is a key aspect in achieving ambitious climate goals when it is combined with renewable energy. According to IEA scenarios if cost-effective measures of energy efficiency were put into place in all areas where can make a substantial impact in the global GHG emission would reach its peak by 2030, and by 2040. This would be more than 40% of the total GHG abatement required to limit temperature increases below 1.5 degrees Celsius.
In the future it will be essential for countries to focus on doubling the annual improvement in energy efficiency rate. This is the only way to achieve the climate mitigation goals laid in the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals. This will require integrating energy efficiency into all plans, policies and major investment decisions, as well making it the top priority for consumers, businesses and investors.
Energy efficiency is an important aspect of green energy, which blends renewables and energy efficiency to provide an environmentally friendly, carbon-free substitute for conventional electricity. Renewables include solar and wind power as well as geothermal energy, biomass that is eligible as well as small hydroelectric systems with low impact. Renewable energy has to be paired with energy efficiency, either as products or services. Green power companies are available online, and the procedure to switch providers is quick and simple. Some companies even provide a two-week 'cooling off' period, which allows customers to decide if they really want to change their supplier.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide, are emitted when fossil fuels are burned. These gases trap heat in the atmosphere and trigger climate change. Human activities account for a large proportion of greenhouse gas emission. Climate change poses a significant environmental and economic risk as per a number of studies. Reducing the use of fossil fuels for energy is one way to reduce greenhouse gases. You can also generate electricity using renewable energy sources.
The largest source of greenhouse gas emissions is from the generation of electricity. In the United States more than half of the energy produced is generated by coal-fired power plants. Making electricity from renewable sources, like geothermal, solar, wind and low-impact small hydro creates significantly less greenhouse gas emissions.
Other sources of greenhouse gas emissions are residential and commercial buildings as well as transportation. Residential and commercial buildings consume significant amounts of electricity to provide heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. Lighting; appliances, plug load; and many other functions. Retrofits and "green" techniques for building can make these buildings use significantly less energy. This will result in less greenhouse gases.
Transport activities release greenhouse gases from the burning of fossil fuels for trains, cars, and trucks and planes and ships. Reduced emissions can be accomplished by replacing gasoline-powered vehicles with hybrid electric or hydrogen fuel cell automobiles. The improvement in fuel efficiency can lower transportation emissions. In addition, reducing emissions can be achieved through the use of renewable energy sources to power transportation, such as electric, biofuels, or low-carbon natural gases.
Methane is created by processes for removing waste and agriculture. It is a powerful greenhouse agent. Methane can be produced from livestock and other animal farming practices as well as land use and the decomposition of organic garbage in municipal landfills for solid waste. Reducing these sources of methane emissions can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Utility Green Power Products (Green Pricing)
Many utilities offer green options for their customers. These products range from 50 to 100 percent renewable energy, and are available in addition to traditional energy supply options. Contacting your utility will provide more details to customers. The purchase of these products is an excellent method to aid in the development of cleaner, greener energy sources.
Renewable Energy Costs
The cost of alternative energy sources continues to decrease as the world strives towards the goal of 100% renewable power by 2050. Wind and solar power are now some of the cheapest sources of electricity. Furthermore, the cost per unit of energy, or LCOE, is projected to decrease as technology improves and more projects are created. In comparison to fossil fuels, the upfront costs of renewable energy plants are higher, however long-term savings could be enough to offset the initial costs.
Renewables are a great way to produce green energy at a low price with fewer environmental impacts. They can also reduce the health risks that are associated with respiratory diseases caused by coal, and create jobs to stimulate the economy. Additionally, they provide affordable energy prices to consumers.
While the initial cost of building renewable facilities is typically higher than those for fossil-fuel plants, they can operate at a low cost once they're built (as their "fuel" is free). Studies have shown that the average home'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.
Additionally the ongoing capital cost for renewables can be mitigated 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 much lower, which will reduce the costs.
A full analysis of the costs and benefits of a 100% renewable electricity system is yet to be done however, preliminary research suggests that it could have a number of significant advantages. Jesse Jenkins, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, conducted a study that showed that limiting renewable energy sources to nondispatchable sources, such as onshore and solar energy results in higher cost for policy than the simple goal of a low-carbon electricity target.
In New York, where the majority of households purchase their electricity through competitive electric markets, green power options are readily available to those who wish to help support green energy solutions. A typical green power plan makes use of renewable energy sources like biomass, wind, solar, and hydroelectricity. These alternatives can be used to generate a significant amount of the electricity used in New York. Choosing a green power option will create an environmentally sustainable and durable energy mix for the State of New York.