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What Is Green Power? Green power is electricity produced from renewable sources that does not emit pollutants. Many households have access to green power products that are branded by utility companies and can find third-party-certified choices for states here. Warehouses, superstores and factories can install solar panels on their rooftops to provide their own clean energy. Companies with large vehicle fleets could opt to switch to electric vehicles. Renewable Energy Sources Renewable sources of energy include sunlight, wind, water and the Earth's heat (geothermal). They replenish themselves in a natural way over time, in contrast to fossil fuels like oil and coal that are limited resources that will eventually run out. Renewables are a cleaner option to generate electricity, as they don't release harmful greenhouse gases. The most common form of green power is generated by hydropower plants. Seventy-one percent of Earth's surface is covered by water and as it goes through a constant cycle of raining and evaporating, it creates natural energy. This process can be harnessed by controlling the flow of water through turbines, which then generate electricity. Geothermal, solar and wind are also renewable energy. Green energy can also be created through solar energy to warm up water in boilers and other appliances. It can also be produced by generating biodiesel or ethanol from plant and crop waste. Many communities are now relying on renewable energy to provide more energy, from huge offshore wind farms to solar panels for 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 create green power however, not all are to be equal. To be considered green, a resource must be zero-emissions or low-emissions during its operation, and 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 third-party certified renewable electricity. This type of electricity can be generated by solar power, wind power geothermal energy, biogas, certain forms of biomass, and other small hydroelectric sources with minimal impact. It's available in all markets and offers consumers an easy and effective way to make a positive environmental impact. This type of electricity can be used to replace traditional energy sources and aid in reducing carbon emissions which is a crucial step towards an environmentally sustainable future. Energy Efficiency Energy efficiency refers to technologies and practices that use less energy to produce the same amount of products and services. This means decreasing the amount of waste generated during production processes, as well as improving the design and construction of buildings, vehicles and household appliances. Energy-efficient technologies can also reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as dependence on fossil fuels and air and water pollutants. They can also help decouple GDP and energy use growth. DNREC offers a variety of energy efficiency programs for businesses, schools and local governments. These include the Energy Efficiency Investment Fund (EEIF) and the Energy Efficiency Industrial (E2I) Program. These programs offer grants and low-interest loan to encourage non-residential improvement in energy efficiency. In addition, DNREC also offers rebates and tax credits for upgrades to residential energy efficiency. Energy efficiency is a crucial component in achieving ambitious climate goals when combined with renewables. According to IEA scenarios, if cost-effective measures of energy efficiency were implemented in all sectors that they could make a significant impact globally, GHG emission would peak before 2030 and then by 2040. This would be more than 40% of total GHG reduction needed to keep temperature increases below 1.5 degrees Celsius. In the near future, countries will need to double the rate of improvement in energy efficiency. This is the only way to achieve the climate mitigation targets laid out 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 an absolute priority for businesses, consumers and investors. Energy efficiency is an essential component of green power, which combines renewable energy with energy efficiency to offer green and carbon-free alternatives to conventional electricity. Renewable sources include solar, wind geothermal, eligible biomass, and small hydroelectric sources with low impact. To be considered green power, renewable energy must be paired with energy efficiency by way of an energy efficiency product or service. On the internet, you can find green power companies. The process of switching is quick and simple. Some suppliers offer a cooling-off time of two weeks to allow customers the chance to consider whether they would like to switch providers. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide, are released when fossil fuels are burned. These gases absorb heat from the atmosphere and cause climate change. Human activities are responsible for a large portion of greenhouse gas emissions. Several studies have shown that climate change poses environmental and economic dangers. Reduced fossil fuel energy consumption is one way to reduce greenhouse gases. Another option is to generate electricity from renewable energy sources. The largest source of greenhouse gas emissions is due to the production of electricity. In the United States, more than half of our energy comes from coal-fired power plants. Renewable energy sources such as wind, geothermal, solar and small hydro that have low environmental impact creates substantially less greenhouse gas emissions. Commercial and residential structures, as well as transportation are also sources of greenhouse gas emission. Residential and commercial buildings consume large amounts of energy for heating air conditioning, ventilation lighting, appliances and plug loads and many other purposes. “Green” techniques for building and retrofits can help buildings use less energy, which results in less greenhouse gas emissions. Transport activities generate greenhouse gases from the burning fossil fuels used to power cars, trucks and trains and planes and ships. The reduction of these emissions is possible by replacing gasoline-powered vehicles with hybrid, electric, electric or hydrogen fuel cell cars. The improvement in fuel efficiency can lower transportation emissions. Using renewable sources of energy to power transportation (such as biofuels, electric or natural gas with low carbon) can further reduce emissions. Waste disposal and agricultural activities generate methane, which is a potent greenhouse gas. Methane is produced by livestock and other animal farming, land use, and decomposition of organic wastes found in municipal waste landfills. Reducing these sources of methane emissions can aid in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Utility Green Power Products (Green Pricing) Many utilities offer green energy options to their customers. These range from 50 to 100 percent renewable energy, and are offered in addition to the traditional energy supply options. Contacting your utility will provide more information to customers. Making purchases of these products is a great method to aid in the development of cleaner, greener energy sources. Renewable Energy Costs The price of alternative energy sources continues to decrease as the world works towards an objective of 100% renewable power by 2050. Wind and solar power are now some of the most affordable sources of electricity available. The levelized cost, also known as LCOE is also expected to continue decreasing as technology improves and new projects are proposed. In comparison to fossil fuels, the upfront costs of renewable energy plants are still higher but long-term savings could help offset these initial costs. Renewable energy sources can provide cheap, clean energy that has considerably less environmental impact than traditional fossil fuels. They can also lower the health risks of respiratory illnesses caused by coal and create jobs to stimulate the economy. Additionally, they provide affordable energy prices to consumers. Although the initial cost of building renewable facilities is often more expensive than fossil-fuel plants, they operate at a very low cost once built (as their “fuel” is free). Studies show that switching to renewable energy will reduce the average household's energy bill. Renewable energy technologies are generally more affordable and require less infrastructure to deploy than conventional power plants. In addition the ongoing capital cost for renewables can be mitigated by government incentives and rebates. In addition, high interest rates have significantly increased the costs of capital-intensive renewable projects. However, Morningstar estimates future interest rates to be lower, which could reduce the cost of renewable energy. It is not yet feasible to conduct a complete analysis of the cost versus benefits of a 100% renewable electricity system, however preliminary research suggests that it could offer some significant advantages. For example, a study by Jesse Jenkins for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology discovered that restricting renewables to non-dispatchable sources such as onshore wind and solar results in higher policy costs than merely a low-carbon electricity goal. In New York, where the majority of households buy their electricity via competitive electric markets, green power options are readily available for customers who wish to help support green energy solutions. A typical green power plan makes use of energy from renewable sources like wind, biomass, solar, and hydroelectricity. While power mobility are not currently used to supply all the electricity used in the State but they could provide a substantial portion. By using green power, New York can create a more resilient and sustainable energy mix.