Use Green Energy

Electric power generated by fossil-fuels is a big source of California’s greenhouse gas emissions. California businesses can reduce emissions by increasing renewable energygeneration and green power purchasing.

Renewable energy is electricity supplied from energy sources, such as wind, solar, geothermal, hydro, and biomass.

Simple, Low-Cost Investments to Use Green Energy

Purchase Green Power from your Utility

Buying green power, where available, can be an easy and effective way to improve environmental performance.

Longer Term Investments to Use Green Energy

Increase On-site Renewable Energy Generation

After existing facilities are upgraded to achieve optimal energy performance, consider adding renewable energy generation (like solar panels) to your facilities.

Consider using biofuels

Biomass can be converted directly into liquid fuels, called biofuels, to help meet transportation fuel needs. Ethanol and biodiesel are the two most common types of biofuels. Think about investing in alternative fuel and flex-fuel vehicles for your business transportation needs.

Plan to Use Green Energy

Join the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Green Power Partnership

Provides assistance related to the purchasing of green power, including a search feature to locate green power providers in California.

Types of Green Energy and Information

Renewable Energy

• ENERGY STAR’s Guide for Small Businesses and Using Renewable Energy
  Provides business-oriented links related to renewable energy and green power.
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory - Renewable Energy for Small Business Owners
  Provides information on biofuels, geothermal heat pumps, passive solar heating, photovoltaic (solar cell) systems, solar hot water heaters, and wind energy.
• U.S. Department of Energy Consumer's Guide: Renewable Energy
  Features comprehensive basic information and resources suitable for small businesses as well as consumers.

Biofuels

• U.S. Department of Energy Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center
  Provides a wide range of information and resources to enable the use of alternative fuels, in addition to other petroleum reduction options such as advanced vehicles, fuel blends, idle reduction, and fuel economy.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Alternative Fuels
  Information on alternative fuels, including fact sheets and information on vehicle emissions.

Geothermal

Shallow ground (upper 10 feet of the Earth) maintains an almost constant temperature between 50° and 60°F. This ground temperature is cooler than the air above it in the summer and warmer than the air in the winter. Geothermal heat pumps use this circumstance to cool and heat buildings.

• Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium
  Provides information on geothermal heat pumps, including case studies, brochures, heating system comparisons, and a list of manufacturers.
• International Ground Source Heat Pump Association
  Provides basic information about ground source heat pumps and a business directory of accredited installers and designers by state.

Solar

People have used the sun's energy to make buildings brighter and warmer for centuries. Today, special equipment and specially designed buildings can more effectively capture solar energy for light and heat. Solar energy can make our buildings more comfortable while also reducing utility costs and pollution.

• California Solar Initiative
  The California Solar Initiative is part of the Go Solar California campaign and builds on 10 years of state solar rebates offered to customers in California's investor-owned utility territories: Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E.) The California Solar Initiative is overseen by the California Public Utilities Commission.
• Tips for Daylighting with Windows
  Guidelines from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory for new commercial buildings.
• U.S. Department of Energy Consumer's Guide: Outdoor Solar Lighting
  Provides basic information and resources applicable for small businesses.
• U.S. Department of Energy Consumer's Guide: Small Solar Electric Systems
  Provides basic information and resources applicable for small businesses.
• U.S. Department of Energy Consumer's Guide: Solar Water Heaters
  Provides basic information and resources applicable for small businesses.
• U.S. Department of Energy: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
  NREL published many useful business-related resources related to renewable energy, including A Consumer's Guide: Heat Your Water with the Sun. While written for a consumer audience, the information is relevant to small businesses.

Wind

Wind turbines, like windmills, are mounted on a tower to capture the most energy. Wind turbines can be used as stand-alone applications, or they can be connected to a utility power grid or even combined with a photovoltaic (solar cell) system. For utility-scale sources of wind energy, a large number of wind turbines are usually built close together to form a wind plant. Stand-alone wind turbines are typically used for water pumping or communications. However, homeowners, farmers, and ranchers in windy areas can also use wind turbines as a way to cut their electric bills.

California Wind Energy CollaborativeCommitted to spreading practical knowledge about small wind energy systems to the public.

U.S. Department of Energy Consumer's Guide: Small Wind Electric Systems
Provides basic information and resources applicable for small businesses.

U.S. Department of Energy: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Published Small Wind Electric Systems: A U.S. Consumer's Guide; while written for a consumer audience, the information is relevant to small businesses.

Green Power Network
Provides news and information on green power markets and related activities and summarizes green power products available in California and nationally available renewable energy certificate products.