STANFORD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF EARTH SCIENCES - EARTH SYSTEMS PROGRAM

Sustainable Choices

Buy Green Power

Simplicity:
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Carbon Impact:
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Money Savings:
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Health Helper:
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Overview
While most electricity in the U.S. comes from coal-powered plants and contributes to global warming, many municipalities offers opportunities to purchase renewable power. Such programs contribute to the development of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power. While non-renewable energy (such as coal, oil, and natural gas) is exhaustible and will eventually run out, renewable energy can be generated and used for a long time into the future without depleting resources. Go renewable!

Tips & Tricks
Find renewable power for you home. Ask you local government or utility company if they have a renewable energy program you can support.

Think about making your own renewable power. If you are able, you can install solar panels that will convert the sun’s energy directly into electricity for your home. See the Go For Green pages for more resources.

Try renewable energy certificates. If you don’t have a locally available renewable power option, you can still support renewable energy facilities by buying renewable energy certificates. For more information, see the link below.

Web & Print Resources
Find renewable power providers near you:
www.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/buying/buying_power.shtml

Green power resources and information:
www.epa.gov/greenpower/
www.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/
www.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/markets/certificates.shtml?page=0

Largest purchasers of green power:
www.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/resources/tables/customers.shtml

Make you own clean electricity:
www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/electricity/

Renewable energy certificates:
www.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/markets/certificates.shtml?page=0

Renewable Portfolio Standards:
www.pewclimate.org/what_s_being_done/in_the_states/rps.cfm

Learn about renewable energy:
www.nrel.gov/learning/
www.eere.energy.gov/

Unites States energy statistics:
www.eia.doe.gov/fuelelectric.html

Fun Facts

About 50% of electricity in the U.S. is generated from coal. Source

Only 2.3% of U.S. electricity is generated by wind, solar, or other renewable sources. Source

Currently, 91.6% of renewable energy comes from wind power. Source

Modern wind turbines rotate slowly and are little threat to birds; the Audubon Society supports wind power when produced responsibly. Source