What is a Renewable Energy Program?
Using clean, renewable energy is easily one of the most effective actions you can take to reduce your impact on the environment. Today, electricity production tops the list as the number one source of greenhouse gases, as well as toxic buildup in our air and water. Yikes!
Replacing fossil fuel-derived energy with clean, renewable energy sources will take time and reliable, bi-partisan support from both our state and federal governments. That said, there is a lot you can do as an individual household to limit your contribution to climate change and create a sustainable energy future. One big idea: signing up with a local renewable energy program!
What is a renewable energy program?
Renewable energy provides a reliable supply of power while also enhancing energy security, lowering the risk of fuel spills and reducing the need to import fuel. Renewable energy also helps conserve our nation's precious natural resources. We cannot squander them!
Energy companies in both Wyoming and Colorado offer programs that help customers make the switch to renewable energy. Customers may pay a small fee (typically between $5 and $15 per month) to make their homes completely carbon neutral or may opt for a hybrid option.
Rocky Mountain Power's Blue Sky option, for example, costs just under $2 for every 100-kilowatt-hour block. Purchase a block and you've taken climate-positive action that is the equivalent of planting 12 trees or not driving a car for over 1,000 miles. The average household uses 800-kilowatt hours each month. Do the math; the impact can be major!
What else can I do to reduce my environmental impact?
Small changes can have a big impact, especially if lots of us participate! Here are a few actions you can take to start saving energy at home:
Swap all bulbs in the house with LED lightbulbs
Keep your thermostat as low as is comfortable and turn it down when you leave
Invest in sustainable home improvements like air sealing and attic insulation
Unplug electronic devices and kitchen appliances when they are not in use
Buy Energy Star-certified appliances when you replace them
Change out the filters in your furnace and air conditioner routinely
For more information on renewable energy and energy efficiency, visit energy.gov.
