Clean air is important to consumers, and renewable energy contributes to clean air by keeping carbon emissions down from coal and gas-fired utility plants. But if you don't have the ability to install a renewable energy system on your home, how are you able to have renewable power?
One way is signing up to purchase renewably generated power from your utility. If you're interested in signing up for "green" electricity, check with your utility company to learn what options are available in your area. You can also contact your state energy office. If you're currently paying on a budget plan, before switching ask how signing a clean energy contract will affect your monthly payments.
Even if no firm offers it in your territory, you still have options to green your electricity supply. Many renewable energy suppliers sell Renewable Energy Credits ("RECs" or "green tags") from wind power farms situated across the United States, Check out this list of green tag suppliers. You have the choice of buying not only wind certificates, but those of other renewable energy sources as well, including solar, biomass, geothermal, landfill gas, and hydropower.
One disadvantage is that in most cases you won't be able to have your electric company bill you for the green tags. You'll have to calculate your own electricity usage in kilowatt-hours. You may then purchase enough tags from the supplier to cover your usage or any percentage thereof.
One advantage, however, is that you may purchase green tags to not only cover your electricity usage, but to cover other fossil fuel usage as well, such as if you must burn fossil fuels for transportation. You'll just need to do the conversions. In this way, it's actually possible to lead a net-zero carbon life,
It is important to mention that in none of the above cases can it be assured that "green" electrons will be delivered to your house. The firm you contract with will buy enough green tags from a renewable energy supplier, such as a wind farm or solar installation, to cover its commitment with you. The electrons mingle with the other electrons on the power grid.
Your dollars, however, get passed on to pay renewable energy generators, helping them to build more renewable energy power plants, thereby assuring more renewable power to purchase in the future.
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