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What Is Green Power? Green power is electricity derived from sources that are naturally replenished and do not release pollutants. Many households have access to utility-branded green power products and can find third-party certified options by state here. Warehouses, superstores and factories can install solar panels on their roofs to provide their own energy source that is clean. Businesses with fleets of vehicles can switch to electric vehicles. Renewable Energy Sources Renewable energy sources include sunlight, water, wind and Earth's heat (geothermal). They replenish themselves in a natural way over time, in contrast to fossil fuels, such as coal and oil that are limited resources that will eventually run out. Renewable energy is a greener choice to generate electricity, as they don't emit harmful greenhouse gases. Hydropower plants are the most popular source of green energy. Water covers 71 percent of the Earth's surface. As it goes through a cycle of evaporation and rain, it generates energy from nature. This process can be harnessed by controlling the flow of water through turbines, which in turn generate electricity. Other forms of renewable energy sources include geothermal, solar wind, biomass and wind. Green energy is also generated by using sun's energy to warm the water in boilers or other devices, as well as by producing biodiesel and ethanol using plant and crop material that would otherwise go to landfill. Many communities are now relying on renewables to provide more of their energy, from huge offshore wind farms to solar panels on homes that are able to sell surplus energy back to the grid. There are many renewable energy sources, but not all of them are created equal. To be considered green, a source has to be either zero-emissions or low-emissions when it is in operation, and not emit greenhouse gases throughout the entire life cycle of the product (i.e., manufacturing installations, installation, and land use). A good way to make sure you're choosing green power is to use renewable electricity that has been certified by a third party. This kind of power is produced through wind, solar biogas, geothermal and other forms of biomass and small hydroelectric sources that are low-impact. It is available in all markets and offers consumers a simple and effective way to make an impact on the environment. This kind of electricity is a great way to replace traditional energy sources and reduce carbon emissions. Energy Efficiency Energy efficiency is the application of technologies and practices to produce the same amount of goods and services, but using less energy. This means decreasing the amount of waste created during manufacturing processes, and improving the design and construction of vehicles, buildings, and household appliances. Energy-efficient technologies also reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel dependence as well as pollutants in the air and water. They also aid in separating the growth in GDP and energy use. DNREC offers a number of energy efficiency programs to businesses as well as local authorities, schools and. The Energy Efficiency Industrial (E2I) and the Energy Efficiency Fund (EEIF), are two of the programs offered by DNREC. These programs provide grant money and low-interest loans to encourage non-residential energy efficiency improvements. Additionally, DNREC also offers rebates and tax credits for upgrades to residential energy efficiency. Energy efficiency is a crucial aspect in achieving ambitious goals for climate change when it is combined with renewable energy. According to IEA scenarios if cost-effective measures of energy efficiency were put into place across all sectors where can make a substantial impact globally, GHG emissions would peak before 2030, and 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 it will be vital for countries to focus on increasing the annual improvement in energy efficiency rate. Only then will the Paris Agreement's climate mitigation goals and Sustainable Development Goals be achieved. This will require integrating the energy efficiency into all plans, policies and major investment decisions, as well making it the top priority for businesses, consumers, and investors. Energy efficiency is a crucial part of green power, which combines renewables and energy efficiency to provide green and carbon-free alternatives to conventional electricity. Renewable energy sources include solar, wind, geothermal, eligible biomass, and low-impact small hydroelectric sources. Renewable energy has to be paired with energy efficiency, either in the form of an item or service. Green power companies are available on the internet, and the process to switch is quick and easy. Some providers offer a cooling-off period of two weeks, which gives customers the chance to consider whether they would like to switch providers. Greenhouse Gas Emissions When fossil fuels burn greenhouse gases are released, including carbon dioxide. These gases hold heat in the atmosphere and cause climate change. Human activities account for a large portion of the total greenhouse gas emission. Climate change poses a significant environmental and economic threat, according to several studies. One method to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is to use less fossil fuel energy. Another is to generate electricity from renewable energy sources. The primary source of greenhouse gas emissions comes from the generation of electricity. In green energy mobility scooters United States, more than half of our energy is generated by coal-fired power plants. Making electricity from renewable sources, like wind, solar, geothermal and small hydro that is low-impact, produces significantly fewer greenhouse emissions of gas. Other sources of greenhouse gas emissions include residential and commercial buildings, as well as transportation. Residential and commercial buildings consume huge amounts of energy for heating air conditioning, ventilation lighting, appliances and plug loads; and many other purposes. “Green” techniques for building and retrofits may help these buildings use less energy, which results in less greenhouse gas emissions. Transportation activities generate greenhouse gases from the burning of fossil fuels to power vehicles, trucks, trains as well as planes, ships and ships. The reduction of emissions can be achieved by replacing gasoline powered vehicles with hydrogen fuel cell or hybrid electric cars. Fuel efficiency can also reduce emissions from transportation. In addition, reducing emissions can be achieved through the use of renewable energy sources to power transportation, such as electric, biofuels, or natural gas that are low carbon. Methane is created by the waste disposal and agricultural practices. It is a powerful greenhouse agent. Methane is produced by livestock and other animal farming, land use, and the decomposition of organic wastes in municipal waste landfills. Reducing these sources of methane emissions can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Utility Green Power Products (Green Pricing) Many utilities offer green energy options to their customers. These products are available in an array of 50 to 100% renewable energy and can be used as an alternative to standard energy sources. Contacting your utility for additional information to customers. Purchasing these products is a great option to help in the development of cleaner, greener energy sources. Renewable Energy Costs As the world works towards the 2050 goal of 100 renewable energy sources, the cost of alternative energy sources continues to fall. Wind and solar power are among the cheapest electricity sources available. The levelized cost, also known as LCOE is expected to continue decreasing as technology improves and new projects are developed. Compared to fossil fuels, the upfront costs of renewable energy plants are still higher but long-term savings could be enough to offset the initial costs. Renewables can generate clean, affordable energy with significantly fewer environmental impacts than traditional fossil fuels. They also can help lower the risk of respiratory diseases caused by coal. They can also create jobs that stimulate the economy. They also offer consumers stable prices for energy. While the upfront cost of building renewable facilities is usually more expensive than fossil-fuel plants, they can be operated at a low cost once built (as their “fuel” is free). In fact, studies show that the average home's electricity costs will decrease once they make the switch to renewables. This is because renewable energy technologies require less infrastructure than conventional power plants and can be rolled out quickly across the country. Additionally the ongoing capital costs for renewables can be mitigated through incentives and rebates from the government. In addition the high interest rates have disproportionately increased the cost of capital-intensive renewable energy projects but Morningstar estimates that future interest rates will be lower, which will reduce the costs. A thorough analysis of the benefits and costs of a 100 percent renewable electricity system is yet to be completed however, early research suggests it could offer significant advantages. Jesse Jenkins, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, conducted a study that showed that limiting renewable energy sources to nondispatchable sources like solar and onshore winds results in higher policy cost than a simple 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 to those who wish to promote sustainable energy options. A typical green power plan includes sources of energy such as renewable wind, biomass hydroelectricity, solar and biomass. These options can be utilized to generate a significant amount of the electricity consumed in New York. Choosing a green power option will create a more sustainable and resilient energy mix for the State of New York.