Tip of the Week

Make the Switch to Green Energy

In the United States, coal-fired plants release almost three billion tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere--every year--just to keep our electricity up and running. Finding ways to curb our energy consumption helps, but the best way to chip away at those billions of tons is to switch to green power. Fortunately, more than 600 utility companies in over 30 states now offer options for supporting green power. In some states, customers can choose to have all their household power generated from renewable sources like wind and solar power. Other utility companies offer "green pricing" programs. Customers who sign up pay a small premium added to their monthly bill that is used to up the company's investment in renewable energy, leading to a greater percentage of green power for all customers. Check out the EPA's Green Power Locator map to find a green power provider in your state.

If your local utility company doesn't offer any green power options, you don't have to move to support renewable energy. A variety of companies sell renewable energy certificates (RECs), which support renewable energy facilities across the nation. Each REC represents the environmental attributes, such as the tons of greenhouse gases avoided, for each megawatt-hour (MWh) of renewable energy produced. See the U.S. Department of Energy's list of Renewable Energy Certificates Retail Products to browse RECs.

Though the additional cost for greener energy is usually minor, if you're worried about a bigger bill, offset the increase by using less energy around the house. See Cutting Costs in a Fuel-Scarce World for simple ways to save energy and lower your monthly utility bill.

© The Green Guide, 2008

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