Clean Energy Options for Houses
Many homeowners who want clean, green energy will buy and install solar panels. However, a solar array can be prohibitively expensive. Moreover, solar panels are not an option for many renters, condo owners, homeowners in covenant-controlled communities and others.
Posted — UpdatedFor those of us who can't afford solar panels or are unable to install them, there are many other options for getting clean energy in your home, including green pricing, cogeneration, solar leasing and more.
The combined electric grid system prevents utility companies from delivering hydroelectric energy, for example, directly to selected consumers. Instead, utility customers can use power generated by a mix of green and conventional options, but pay extra to support the utility companies' green investments.
Community renewable energy programs operate on a smaller scale than major utilities such as Portland General Electric, but are a more direct way for individuals to get energy from renewable sources.
Some community programs offer a way for homeowners to pool their resources to invest in renewable energy. For example, 18 residents of a small town in Colorado bought shares in a community solar array, and get renewable-energy credits each month on their electric bills.
Other community programs may be citywide green-energy programs run by municipal utilities and small private power companies. In some such cases, every resident pays for and uses green power.
More than a dozen states have openly competitive electricity markets, according to the DOE. In many of these states, dedicated green power providers compete directly with the major utilities. Here is a list of clean energy providers in states with competitive electric markets.
Cogeneration, or combined heat and power (CHP), is the production of electricity, heat and hot water from the same natural gas or similar individual source. To be sure, natural gas is a fossil fuel, but CHP is greener than most natural gas energy production. The heat generated in electric production is typically wasted, but with CHP, such heat is captured and reused for space heating and hot water.
Homeowners who are concerned about their carbon footprint have a range of clean energy options beyond the standard solar panel installation.