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Photo courtesy: AEST, Inc. http://www.aesti.com

I would think that by now most of us know that the ways that we currently produce most of our energy cannot continue into the long term. Supplies of fossil fuels like oil and coal are finite…and polluting. Of course, a lot of that pollution comes from the burning of those fossil fuels, which effects our air quality – electricity production is the leading cause of industrial air pollution in the US. But did you know that it can also affect the quality of our water? Pollution resulting from driving eventually settles to the ground and is washed into our rivers and oceans as urban runoff. Due to this, reducing energy use is essential for both improved air and water quality.

Another concept that was relatively new to me was that of “vampire power”. If it sounds insidious, that’s because it is. I’d heard that you should unplug your charging devices (for your cell phone, for example) as they draw energy whether anything is charging or not. But what I didn’t know is that some electronic devices actually use MOST of their power while inactive. VCRs and DVD player draw 93% of their power while inactive! A simple cure: power strips (You thought I was going to say to unplug it, didn’t you?) By plugging all non-essential items into one strip, you can disable the power at the source without having to unplug each one individually. Much easier!

Power strips will certainly help, but there are three key ways to really reduce your energy usage:

1. Install compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). Yes, you’ve heard this one before and you’re going to keep hearing it because lighting accounts for about 12 percent of home electricity use. Using CFLs will cut that by 75%, and save you money. Plus, once you’ve made the switch, you’re done! You can even determine your payback period at the Johnny Greenseed calculator.

2. Purchase green power or green power credits. Though you’ll likely pay a small premium for green power, these fees often go towards the development of additional renewable energy sources. Some energy providers, like Los Angeles’ LADWP, also give users free energy efficient products and services that help to offset additional costs. Purchasing credits, on the other hand, will help to “green up” the entire energy supply by adding renewable energy to the grid.

3. Pay attention to the heating and cooling of your home. This seems like a no-brainer, but incremental improvements can have a big effect. In the winter, each degree that the furnace is set above 68 degrees uses 3-5% more energy. Putting on a sweater is much cheaper.

So take a look at your home – where can you have the biggest impact on your energy usage? Simple changes can add up to big results.

How it works. When you sign up to a green power program, you are supporting your utility company in purchasing power generated from renewable sources, such as wind, solar or low-impact hydropower sources. Other renewable sources include methane or captured landfill gas, geothermal, and biomass.

Due to existing transmission infrastructure, the electricity coming over the lines directly into your home is not guaranteed to be power generated from these renewable sources. However, the more people that sign up for green power options, the more green power the utility company will have to purchase.

What you get. The details of each program are different. Many offer renewable power options at one to two cents more per kilowatt hour, and all offer incentives that make it beneficial or attractive for the consumer. GO’s Maria Surma Manka wrote about Xcel Energy’s Windsource program in Minnesota, and GO’s Philip Proefrock discussed his green power options southeast Michigan. In New York, I’ve signed up for Consolidated Edison’s Solutions program, which includes an annual rebate, no sales tax, and the option of a fixed monthly rate (so I pay the same amount every month for my bill, no matter what my actual usage is). Of course you’ll also get the satisfaction knowing that your green power purchase is helping to further the availability of renewable energy sources.

Check with your electricity provider or the U.S. Department of Energy website to find out if your local utility offers a green power program. Before you sign up, learn more about the details of the program, and find out where the renewable energy sources come from.

More from Green Options:

The Best Green Power Programs
Buy Renewable Energy for Yourself
Real Renewable Energy vs. Renewable Energy Credits
The Who’s Who of Green Power Purchasers

They're among the who's who of green power purchasers in the US.

The amount of electricity these mega-organizations need just to keep the lights on is huge, so it really makes a difference when they choose to purchase green power.

It helps reduce the need for power generated from coal fired power plants and nuclear facilities. It also increases the demand for alternative power sources, which means more investment into wind and solar technologies.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) keeps a list of the top 25 green power purchasers and updates it quarterly. Although these companies do purchase a lot of green power (they are ranked by total kilowatt hours purchased), only six of the top 25 are actually buying enough to cover 100% of their entire electricity needs. But as the availability of alternative power supplies continue to increase, those numbers will more than likely also change to reflect that.

The top 25 as listed by the EPA:
1. Wells Fargo & Company (42%)
2. Whole Foods Market (100%)
3. U.S. Air Force (4%)
4. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (100%)
5. Johnson & Johnson (30%)
6. Starbucks (25%)
7. DuPont Company (4%)
8. U.S. Department of Energy (3%)
9. Vail Resorts Inc. (100%)
10. HSBC North America (35%)
11. Cisco Systems Inc. (21%)
12. Staples (20%)
13. New York University (100%)
14. The World Bank Group (100%)
15. University of Pennsylvania (29%)
16. IBM Corporation (4%)
17. Carbonfund.org (N/A)
18. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (3%)
19. NatureWorks LLC (89%)
20. Sprint Nextel (47%)
21. Safeway Inc. (2%)
22. Pennsylvania State University (20%)
23. Kohl's Department Stores (8%)
24. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (8%)
25. The Tower Companies (100%)

But it isn't just businesses that can buy green power: individuals can too. Check with your electricity provider to see if they have a green power plan you can opt in to.

Via the World Business Council on Sustainable Development (WBCSD)