Light a Fire This Winter: Need to Know Info About Gas, Electric, and Wood Burning Stoves

The snow is falling now, it's cold outside, and while your electric suppliers are preparing for you to turn up the heat, few things are quite as cozy as cuddling up next to a fireplace. A good fire draws the mind back in time and is so delightful to be around when the weather outside is frightful. These days, we have a few options when it comes to adding the warmth and ambiance of fire to our homes.
Over 150 years ago, wood had fueled almost 90% of the country's needed energy. Now we have fireplaces that provide heat from a few different energies: wood, gas, and electricity. If you're keen on conserving energy this winter, let's take a peek at the different styles of keeping that living room toasty.

Wood
There's something comforting about the traditional nature of a wood burning stove. They've been effectively heating homes for thousands of years at this point and continue to today. A constant source of energy, they cannot be foiled by limitations in gas supply or power outages.
While the wood-fueled fireplace may be the most attractive option, you may not reduce energy costs without thoughtful care. Chimneys are culprits of heat escape during the winter and fireplaces often centralize heat instead of being able to circulate it through your home. There is also annual safety inspection that must be considered. A wood fireplace can be a liability if not adequately cared for.


Gas
The bill from your electric suppliers will likely be the lowest with this option. Gas is convenient and you'll save on energy costs by having the ability to redirect the heat from your gas stove to the rest of the house. If you're looking for ways to save energy in your home, gas fireplaces are a great choice. They work during power outages and there's little cleaning or maintenance to be done, other than inspection once a year.
As with wood-burning fireplaces, installation can be pricey. It can be even more pricey if your gas supplier has to install an additional gas line to connect to your fireplace. Even the price of natural gas, depending on how much the fireplace is used, can be cause for concern.


Electric
As far as immediate installation goes, electric fireplaces are the easiest to install and use, and they're also inexpensive. They don't require the space that wood-burning or gas fireplaces need and some are even portable, able to be plugged into power outlets. They're incredibly convenient.
They can be the least appealing as far as visual aesthetic. Most electric fireplaces look like you're watching a fire burn on television. They eat up electricity and don't heat beyond the room they're situated. If there's a power outage, electric fireplaces are completely useless.


At the end of the day, it's all about the space you have, the look you want, and what you're trying to save on. Each option has advantages and disadvantages, but while your electric suppliers are gearing up for you to run the furnace, remember an old fashioned heating option that'll warm you, hearth, home, and heart.

Its Never Too Early to Start Teaching Your Kids About Energy Conservation

When it comes to reducing energy use, you should try to include your whole family. While kids may not fully understand the importance of energy reduction, it's important to get them involved when they're young to ensure they grow up with an environmentally-friendly mindset. With that in mind, let's take a look at a few ways you can teach your children eco-friendly values.

Educate your kids. In order to help kids appreciate energy conservation, they have to understand it first. By having a discussion with your child about energy, you'll be able to help them understand where energy and electricity come from. You should consider telling them about your local energy company and explaining how energy is received from the local energy company. Additionally, there are online resources and books to help explain the concept in a fun, easy way.

Plan activities that don't use electricity. Consider dedicating a certain time, whether it be an hour a day or a whole day out of the week, to do activities that don't use electricity or energy. Exploring outdoors is a great way to do this because oftentimes you don't require energy to do stuff outside. Planning these activities can be a great way to bring the whole family together without sitting in front of a screen.

Use energy-efficient transportation. When possible, you should encourage your family to be creative when it comes to transportation. It's important for kids to know that there are other modes of transportation that will help you reduce energy use. With that in mind, you should consider biking or walking when possible.

Keep your children involved. If you're making lifestyle changes to help increase energy savings, share these behaviors with the whole family. Whether it's taking shorter showers or ensuring all the lights are off when you leave a room, the whole family should be participating. Additionally, if you're doing projects around the house, make sure to include your children. By explaining to them what you're working on and how it's going to help you save energy, you'll be helping them further understand the importance of saving energy.

Start a garden together in the early Spring. Not only do gardens naturally help the environment, but they can also instill a sense of responsibility in your children. Additionally, they'll be able to learn about different types of plants and natural resources. You can choose to grow produce, flowers, or even plant some trees. In fact, trees are a great addition to your property. When trees provide shade, reductions in energy use can save up to 2.4 tons of CO2 emissions annually. Also, each tree can absorb about 25 pounds of CO2 from the air each year on their own.

No matter what age your child is, it's never too early to start teaching them how to save energy and minimize their impact on the environment. Whether it's talking to them about your local energy company or growing plants, there are plenty of ways to educate your children about the importance of reducing energy use.

A Few Renewable Energy Options to Consider for Your Home

There's been a lot of talk lately about green energy and renewable energy options. While most of it may seem out of reach, the truth is that there are renewable energy options for every home.
Have you ever considered making your home a more sustainable, clean place to live? The renewable energy sources below will take you to a level far beyond installing a programmable thermostat and saving a mere 10% on cooling and heating costs.

Solar Roofing Panels
This might be one of the most obvious choices, but its benefits are practically endless. It's worth mentioning as one of the most easily accessible renewable energy sources out there, too! Depending on your roof and the orientation of your panels, it's possible to generate more than 10 watts per square foot of coverage. And solar power doesn't just mean electricity, either. In fact, you have the option of using solar power for household things like heating water and powering your air conditioning, as well. Bid your traditional electricity supplier goodbye!

Wind Turbines
Wind turbines are most typically found offshore or on large, empty plots of land, but nobody said you had to have a mammoth wind turbine in your backyard. In fact, any wind turbine powering your home would need to be scaled down to fit on your property. One of the biggest advantages here is that wind power is a bit more reliable than solar power in most cases. Where the sun may hide behind a cloud, it's a rare day that's without a good breeze.

Hydro Power
If your property houses a stream or any kind of running water, you're in luck. It may not be Niagara Falls, but a micro hydro power system can make powering your home an environmentally friendly breeze. Even a small stream can help you generate power at a price point that's lower than both solar and wind.

If you're looking to get involved in a cleaner, greener lifestyle, these renewable energy sources are excellent places to start. Who knows what other renewable energy tools may become available in the future? It's best to get started now.

5 Energy Conservation Tips For Homeowners

Life can be extremely expensive, and that's especially true for homeowners. Not only do these property owners have to stay on top of their home's maintenance, buy enough groceries for their entire family, and make regular car payments, they have to spend a significant amount of money on energy.

With all of that in mind, here are some excellent energy conservation tips that you should consider if you're a homeowner.

Do laundry using cold water

It might sound simple, but that's because it is! Doing your wash with cold water will actually save you plenty of cash. Washing clothes using only cold water can actually save you about $63 a year.

Clean your HVAC filters regularly

Cleaning your heating and cooling systems on a consistent basis will ensure they are working properly, thus saving you money. A dirty AC filter or furnace will slow down air flow and cause the system to work much harder, subsequently jacking up your energy bills.

Seal all air leaks inside your home

Sealing all your air leaks inside your home by properly insulating the walls and attic can actually save you up to 20% on heating bills. Not only will you be saving a tremendous amount of cash every month by not wasting energy, but your home will also be much warmer and you'll be more comfortable.

Consult with an energy company

A great tip for conserving energy that homeowners rarely think about is to actually call an energy company and see what they have to say.  It's important that you're actually working with a credible, experienced, and helpful organization.  If the company is experienced, they will likely offer energy options to try and reduce your energy usage and potentially your costs.  Rather than doing everything by yourself, stay in contact with your trusted energy company.

Turn on bathroom fans

It might sound like it won't make much of a difference, but it really will. Leaving your home's bathroom fans on for a few hours at a time can help improve comfort and save a few bucks. Bathroom fans actually suck out humidity and heat from your home, leading to a more comfortable home.

Saving energy can help lead to saving money -- so you should do all you can to make your home more energy efficient. To learn more, contact Starion Energy today.

U.S. Cities That Run on 100% Renewable Energy

Cities across the United States are more committed than ever to their roles in reducing carbon emissions. Luckily, it's becoming easier and more affordable for cities to clean their air by using renewable energy. And because of this, five U.S. cities have successfully made the switch to 100% renewable energy over the past decade. Since "100% renewable" may be defined differently in each location, each location made the transition differently. The following five cities have undergone the process to become reliant on 100% renewable energy.

1. Rock Port, Missouri - Rock Port became the first community in America to become powered entirely by wind power in 2008. The 1,300 residents rely on four large wind turbines, which are connected to the power grid. This small town produces more electricity than they can use.
2. Kodiak Island, Alaska - Kodiak Island has been 99% powered by wind and hydro since 2014. The island's electric company decided that 95% of the community's power would rely on renewable energy sources by 2020 after relying heavily on hydro but still burning 2.8 million gallons of diesel every year. Kodiak not only met its goal but succeeded in meeting its target six years early.
3. Greensburg, Kansas - After a tornado forced half the town's population to leave in 2007, the remaining citizens decided to rebuild with a focus on sustainability. Using wind and solar power along with geothermal technologies, Greensburg achieved 100% renewable energy in 2013. Although cost was initially a major setback, the town now saves $200,000 annually in energy costs for its largest buildings.
4. Aspen, Colorado - In 2015, Aspen hit its goal using mainly wind and hydropower. While it was a struggle, the city accomplished their goal in a short eight years. The city already had two hydro plants and decided to buy wind power from other states to reach 100% renewable energy.
5. Burlington, Vermont - After buying a hydro plant facility in 2014, Burlington reach 100% renewable energy. Even though it once relied heavily on coal, Burlington is now powered by wood chips, wind, solar, landfill methane, and hydropower.

Energy Conservation Tips to Help You Go Green

While it may seem impossible, you as a homeowner can go green too! Something as simple as changing your light bulbs to CFLs or LEDs, which reduce energy use from about a third to as much as 80%, can be a great place to begin. Check out these few energy conservation tips to help you get started:

• Change furnace filters regularly
• Use a programmable thermostat
• Seal leaks around windows and doors
• Use a tankless water heater

While this might not seem like a lot, following these simple energy conservation tips can make a huge difference in the long run and get you started on your green energy journey.

Apartment Renter? No Problem! Here's How You Can Still Go Green

It may seem impossible to save energy when you're living in a rental apartment. After all, you only have so much control over what you can do in your space. This is often why topics on saving energy and reducing utility bills are often directed at homeowners.

Fortunately, there are ways that you can reduce your electric bill and save energy as a renter too. Check out these nifty tips on how to save energy in your apartment:


Use LED light bulbs around your apartment. LED lights may be more expensive initially, but you'll thank your past self for making the decision to purchase a box.

LED lights last significantly longer than halogen lights and don't give off as much heat. Not only does this reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses let out into the air, but it also reduces the risk of fire in your home.

Purchase a power strip.
Power strips are a great way to save energy in your apartment. By plugging most of your electronics into one place, you can turn them all off at once when you're not using them.
This can help to reduce carbon emissions as well as reducing your electricity bill. By turning off your unused electronics in one spot, you keep them from sucking energy from the wall when they're not in use.

Use fans.
A lot of an apartment's electricity goes to the HVAC system during the summer and winter months. By placing a fan in your apartment, you can keep your air conditioning or heating at a lower temperature and circulate the air with the fan.

Invest in a programmable thermostat.
If you live in an apartment where you can install your own thermostat, consider investing in a programmable thermostat. You can reduce up to 6% of the carbon dioxide emissions from your home by lowering your thermostat only two degrees during the winter. You can also keep the heating or air conditioning off while you're away from your apartment to reduce energy use even more.

Going green isn't just something homeowners can do; you can save energy in your apartment too! By making simple changes around your home, you can make your utility smaller and reduce the impact you have on the environment around you. Contact Starion Energy today with questions or energy options.

GM Increasing Use of Renewable Energy to 20%

General Motors made a recent announcement that its manufacturing facilities in Ohio and Indiana will now use 100% renewable energy. GM is purchasing 200 megawatts of wind energy and by the end of 2018, 20% of GM's global electricity use will be powered by renewable energy.

Rob Threlkeld, global manager of renewable energy, told Energy Manager Today, "The first step in meeting our 100 percent renewable energy commitment is reducing the energy intensity of our operations overall. All seven facilities that will have their electricity needs met through this wind deal have achieved the ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry, meaning they reduced energy intensity by at least 10% in five years or less."

GM has been one of America's biggest purchasers of renewable energy for decades. The company has saved approximately $5 million annually in doing so. They use solar power at 26 facilities and are continuously working towards using 100% renewable energy at all of their facilities.

Easy Ways to Save Energy At Home

There are multiple easy ways to save energy at home and contribute to the planet becoming more environmentally-friendly. If you don't know where to begin, read the list below to get some ideas on how to start saving energy.

Reduce, reuse, and recycle -- purchase minimally packaged goods, choose reusable products when possible, and recycle, recycle, recycle.

Insulate your walls and ceilings and update your windows. While this might be one of the more expensive ways to save energy in your home, it will pay off in the long run when you have to spend less on heating and cooling. You can also consider installing a programmable thermostat to save up to 10% on your cooling and heating costs.

Replace and clean your air filters. Energy costs can go up when air conditioners or hot-air furnaces have to work harder to get air through dirty air filters. Simply cleaning your air filters can save up to 175 pounds of CO2 each year.

Switch out your light bulbs with energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs. These bulbs use one-fourth the energy of a normal incandescent bulb.

Make sure your dishwasher and washer are always full before running them to avoid wasting water.
If possible, walk, carpool, or ride your bike instead of driving your car. In doing this, you will reduce your carbon footprint.

There are many easy ways to save energy at home, and these are a few good places to start. Over time, it will become easier for you to go green and hopefully, the rest of the planet will join you.

Source: https://www.energymanagertoday.com/gm-power-20-global-electricity-load-clean-energy-0172057/

Who's in Charge of Energy Regulations in the U.S.?

Regulating the energy industry in America is not done by just one regulatory organization, but rather many different organizations that each focus on something specific. These organizations can either be created by federal law or be part of government agencies and provide varying levels of energy regulations. This article provides a brief introduction to the companies that oversee the energy regulations in the U.S. energy industry.

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

DOE was created in 1977 and has the broadest responsibilities in the energy regulations of power generation and electric suppliers and distribution at the federal level.

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

The NRC was created by Congress in 1974. After the passing of the Energy Reorganization Act, NCR was to oversee the growing nuclear energy industry. The commission is led by five commissioners selected by the U.S. Senate and is in charge of regulating the creation of nuclear energy, as well as the use of nuclear materials. In addition to inspecting and licensing nuclear power plants and reactors, the commission also has the responsibility of regulating uranium mining and nuclear waste.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)

After the Federal Power Act of 1920, FERC was created. This organization oversees the electricity, oil, and natural gas industries. Some additional responsibilities include:

• Reviewing electricity project proposals
• Inspecting public and private sector electricity plants
• Providing licenses for electricity plants
• Regulating interstate wholesale electricity agreements
• Monitoring the electricity markets
• Enforcing regulations

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE)

Surface coal and related environmental affairs are regulated by the OSMRE. In 1977, the Surface Control and Mining Act created the bureau. A prime duty of OSMRE includes working with Americans to confirm land and water quality after a mining project has been completed.

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

Founded more than 100 years ago, NIST promotes scientific innovation within areas including:

• Nanotechnology
• Computer Chips
• Energy Production

Research is sponsored by the institute and it also recognizes achievements in areas it supports. It also focuses on sustainable energy development. Renewable energy sources are becoming increasingly available. In fact, about 10% of U.S. energy consumption was from renewable energy sources in 2015.

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)

With offices in California, Alaska, and Louisiana, BOEM's main focus is environmental protection. The agency's responsibilities include management of oil and gas leases, environmental reviews, as well as additional renewable energy projects.
Another key responsibility is managing marine energy exploration and mining in Alaska, the Pacific regions, and the Gulf of Mexico.

All of these organizations work together in ensuring that all organizations in the United States are following regulations and working towards keeping the country productive yet safe.

3 Energy Saving Tips To Prepare You for Fall

Fall and winter might bring their own wonders like foliage, snowfall, pumpkin spice, and peppermint, but they can be killer when it comes to your energy bill. In this post, we will discuss how to prepare yourself for the coming cold of winter and provide some handy energy conservation tips.

Switch Your Light Bulbs
You've likely already noticed the days are getting shorter. While we're still a ways from the shortest day of the year, it won't be long before the decreasing amount of sunlight will have an effect on your utility provider bill. One of the easiest energy conservation tips is to consider replacing your old light bulbs with more energy efficient offerings. Today's halogen incandescent, LED, CFL lights can save you between a third and 80% of your energy usage.

Check for Leaks in Heating Vents
While a lot has been said about the importance of improving the insulation in your home (especially the attic), people are surprisingly silent about one of the largest contributors to heat loss, and therefore energy waste. Take the time to have your metal heating vents checked for any leaks and remember, metal constricts when it is cold, so a venting system that's sound in summer might have sprung a leak by the time October or November rolls around. It could save you as much as 20% with your energy company.

Set Your Thermostat Modestly
What feels better than stepping in for a chilly autumn evening and being enveloped in the warm air of your home. But if you're interested in saving on your electricity or concerned with your environmental impact, then you might want to reconsider your thermostat setting. Even setting your thermostat two degrees lower during the winter can save the typical homeowner 420 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each year. It can also have a big impact on the total cost of your electricity bill. So stock up in advance on cozy sweaters and blanket in order to help you keep warm without using as much energy, or consider a small solar powered space heater to help maximize the amount of heat you take in from the sun during the day.
Fall and winter can be killer if you're someone who cares about reducing energy use. But with these energy conservation tips, you'll be able to start preparing for the cooler half of the year.

Follow These Tips to Conserve Energy at Your School Today

Every day, we are looking for more ways to save energy to help our environment. We turn off lights when we're not in the room, shut off faucets when we don't need water, and recycle things for various uses so they don't go to waste in landfills. About 10% of the total energy consumption in the U.S. was from renewable energy in 2015. That may seem acceptable, but there is definitely room for improvement. So, if you are a teacher or school administrator, follow these tips to help conserve energy in your school today.

Electricity

The most obvious thing you can do when it comes to electricity conservation is to turn off all lights when they're not in use. To remind your students to turn off the lights, try hanging up little signs next to light switches. Use energy efficient or LED bulbs instead of the traditional bulbs. Run lessons and experiments on energy conservation in your classroom, so your kids can understand it better. The more they understand its importance, the more serious they'll take turning off the lights.

Heating and Cooling

Set your thermostat to a reasonable temperature to ensure a level of comfort for both teachers and students. Fans can also help cool a room down. This way, you are saving energy by not relying on air conditioning. Programmable thermostats can also help you keep track of a temperature in a room.

Tech and Computers

Assure your computers are able to go into sleep mode when not in use. Doing this makes saving energy a lot easier. Have students turn off monitors if the computers are not going to be used again for a while. Always check to be sure all the computers are off at the end of the school day. Computers take up a lot of energy, so cutting down any way you can is good.
Schools are a powerhouse of energy usage, from lights to heating to the various tools of the trade used to teach a child. It can be difficult sometimes to figure out how to reduce energy costs, but providing a good, quality education to kids is an excellent way to start.

RESA: Analysis Shows Millions in Potential Electricity Savings Available to Connecticut Consumers

RESA: Many Competitive Electricity Offers Available Below The Cost Of Utility Standard Service Rate 

An analysis of Connecticut's competitive electricity market shows many competitive offers below the cost of utility service, and if all Connecticut electricity consumers taking utility standard rate service switched to these lowest available competitive offers, the potential savings are more than $18.5 million for July, the Retail Energy Supply Association said today

"Some have questioned the value of Connecticut's competitive energy market, suggesting that utility service offers a better option than signing up with a competitive supplier. But this simplistic equation ignores the values beyond price that competitive suppliers bring to the marketplace," said Retail Energy Supply Association spokesman Bryan Lee.

"Nevertheless, this analysis shows that if a shopper's only value proposition were price, many competitive suppliers offer electricity at prices below the standard service rate. If all the state's electricity customers receiving utility service instead chose the lowest available competitive offer, considerable potential savings would be realized," Lee said.

RESA said that, as of July 21 in Eversource's territory, 97 competitive supply offers were available from 23 competitive suppliers. Of those, 21 would provide a fixed rate below the utility rate and 24 offered 100 percent renewable energy green offers, some of which were below the utility's rate. The total potential savings available to standard offer customers amounted to nearly $15.7 million, RESA said

As of July 21 in United Illuminating's territory, 94 competitive offers were available from 24 competitive suppliers. Of those, 13 were below the standard offer rate and 24 offered 100 percent renewable energy green offers, some of which were at rates below the utility's standard offer rate. Total potential savings available to the utility's standard offer customers amounted to more than $2.8 million, RESA said

"Price is only one factor consumers weigh when choosing electricity supply," said Marc Hanks, RESA's New England chairman. Hanks further noted that suppliers are innovating and developing value-added products and services that go beyond price to differentiate themselves from competitors. RESA noted that while some suppliers provide incentives like gift cards and loyalty points, others offer smart thermostats, smart devices and energy services that allow consumers to take charge of their energy usage. Chief among these value-added products are green energy options that allow consumers to express their environmental preferences through their electricity purchase, RESA said

"Connecticut's consumers are benefiting from a range of developing value-added products and services available through competitive supplier product differentiation. Price is only one consideration," Hanks said. "Encouraging the public to only consider utility standard offer service is a disservice to consumers and the emerging innovation available through the state's competitive energy market."

The analysis of potential savings is based on information available through www.energizect.com, the Connecticut Public Utilities Authority's official rate board website. "The Authority has developed an excellent and comprehensive tool to inform, compare and filter the many choices designed to help consumers find the option best suited to meet their energy need," Hanks said.

http://www.energychoicematters.com/stories/20170816c.html

Easy and Inexpensive Ways to Create a Sustainable Home

While there are plenty of ways to save energy in your home, going green can actually be more expensive. Buying green cleaning products and investing in energy saving initiates can sometimes turn people off because of their prices, despite being an investment into the home's energy costs down the line.

However, there are plenty of ways to save on energy costs in your home. Follow some of these tips and tricks and your wallet will thank you!

Make sure to turn off all electronics when you are done using them. Even if they are turned off they can still be sucking energy from your home, so simply turn them all the way off when you're done. This includes your computer, your television, and your microwave.

Install a programmable thermostat. Doing so will save you up to 10% on cooling and heating costs as you'll be able to plan exactly when your home will use its energy efficiently.
Ditch your newspaper and magazine subscriptions -- you'll be able to read them online for a similar price but save loads of paper in the process.
Get rid of your paper towels and invest in cloth. It may take some time getting used to, but you'll be shocked at the amount of paper you use every day that just goes into the trash!
Time your showers. Play your favorite song and see if you can get in and out by the time it is done.
Buy a lunch box instead of using plastic bags every day. Not only will you reduce your plastic consumption, you'll be inspired to pack your lunch every day because of your nice new bag.
Contact your utility provider as they may have some sustainable energy options for you to try out including solar, wind, and geothermal.
Put a recycling bin on every level of your home so there is no excuse for your family not to recycle.
Pay all of your bills online. Less paper equals less energy used overall -- and direct deposit means you won't have to worry about a thing!

These simple tips and tricks will go far when it comes to investing in taking care of Mother Nature.

There are 9.8 Million Green Jobs Around the World

9.8 million people were employed by the renewable energy industry during 2016 according to the Renewable Energy and Jobs – Annual Review 2017 report issued by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

But not all types of renewable energy are growing at the same rate. Roughly 1.5 million sustainable energy jobs are in large hydropower plants, which did not see any significant growth over the last year. Instead, other renewable energy sources such as solar (3.1 million jobs) and wind (1.2 million jobs) grew considerably – doubling the number of jobs from four years ago.

The largest creation of these jobs was in Asia -- China saw a 3.4% improvement alone, now employing 3.64 million people. Africa also made great strides forward, with small scale developments proving particularly useful in helping to develop sustainable energy in regions that have never had the infrastructure for a utility provider before.
Domestically, the explosion is even more dramatic. Solar-energy jobs in the United States are growing faster than the United States economy.

According to another new report, published by the Environmental Defense Fund's (EDF) Climate Corps program, wind turbine technician is the fastest growing job in the country.
The same EDF report has fossil-fuel jobs in 2016 decreased 4.5% from 2015, as more and more people opt for green sources of energy. Solar energy use, for instance, replaces 75 million barrels of oil annually.

The two predominant causes of this surge are the increased affordability and a greater effort to create policies that removed barriers for green energy across the globe. The cost of producing solar panels, for instance, dropped 72% from 2010 to 2015. This has enabled a much higher amount of energy generated by solar means, growing from 876 megawatts in 2010 to 10,727.
One of the more interesting figures to come out of these surveys is that 70% green energy jobs are with companies that employ 10 or fewer people. The implication is that most energy efficiency companies tend to serve a more local client base.

But whether or not customers have access to greener technology is still largely determined by whether or not they live in one of the deregulated energy states. Those that do have a much broader choice of where they get their energy, and what types of renewable energy they would like to utilize. If they don't live in a state with energy deregulation, they likely have many fewer choices.
Still, it looks like all types of renewable energy jobs will continue to grow in the United States, with solar power being poised for the most growth.

Consumers Fare Better With Competitive Electricity Markets

Policymakers across the country are grappling with a stunning transition under way in the United States’ $380 billion electricity sector. Electricity consumption is flat, cleaner energy sources are dramatically increasing market share while nuclear and fossil fuel generation plants struggle to maintain economic viability, and new consumer-empowering technology innovations promise to transform how households and businesses use energy.

The U.S. electricity sector hasn’t seen such foment since 20 years ago, when state and federal policymakers began to introduce competitive reforms to the staid monopoly-regulated electric utility industry. While the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission acted to establish the wholesale power markets that now dominate most of the country, many states acted to open up retail markets so that for the first time in more than a century electricity consumers could choose from among competing suppliers.

Indeed, until California’s well-intentioned but poorly conceived first-in-the-nation experience with electricity competition, it appeared that a majority of states across the country would restructure their electricity markets to enable competition. But after California, some states poised to enact restructuring declined to do so, and others that had adopted competitive reforms reversed course.

Nevertheless, slightly more than a dozen states and the District of Columbia, which account for one-third of all electricity generation and consumption in the country, persisted with the task. They learned from California’s mistakes and created vibrant retail competition programs that have grown and prospered over the past 20 years, benefiting consumers with abundant choices among increasingly innovative, clean and cost-competitive electricity product and service offerings.

So for two decades we’ve had what U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis described as laboratories of democracy at work, with one set of states preserving monopoly utility regulation while another set pursued competition and customer choice.

And as shown in a new white paper commissioned by the Retail Energy Supply Association, entitled “RESTRUCTURING RECHARGED — The Superior Performance of Competitive Electricity Markets 2008-2016,” the verdict is in: Consumers with competitive choice are disproportionately benefiting. Using U.S. Energy Information Administration data, the white paper by Philip R. O’Connor, Ph.D., former chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission, found that competitive choice jurisdiction customers fared demonstrably better in terms of price, investment and efficiency than did those who remained under monopoly regulation.

Weighted average prices in the group of 35 monopoly states have risen nearly 15 percent while in the 14 competitive markets total weighted average prices have declined 8 percent. Inflation-adjusted price changes for major customer classes in choice and monopoly states are starkly different, declining 18 percent for customers in competitive jurisdictions compared to the experience in monopoly states.

It is no surprise then that relatively sophisticated commercial and industrial electricity customers have widely embraced competition, and we’ve a seen a majority of customers in those classes benefit by purchasing electricity from non-utility suppliers in competitive choice states, particularly as competition enables access to cleaner energy supply options. But residential customers are increasingly benefiting from the competitive marketplace too.

Between 2003 and 2008, the number of residential accounts served in competitive jurisdictions by non-utility providers more than tripled from about 2.3 million to 7.1 million, and more than doubled again since to average more than 16.4 million annually. For jobs-producing commercial and industrial customers, between 2003 and 2008 those served by non-utility suppliers grew 240 percent, from 436,000 to nearly 1.6 million. Since then we’ve seen a near doubling again with competitive commercial and industrial accounts averaging more than 2.9 million and exceeding 3 million in 2016.

Dr. O’Connor’s analysis also found a sharp contrast between the two sets of states in terms of innovation. Competitive choice jurisdictions are enabling innovation in customer-empowering alternatives such as “green” energy options and smart thermostats that allow customers to better manage how and when they use electricity. Monopoly utilities, meanwhile, are inherently inhospitable to innovation, his analysis found. This is especially important when one considers the many innovative ideas emerging from Silicon Valley that will power the electricity sector and consumers into a clean energy future.

It is against this backdrop of growing evidence that competitive markets are delivering real and tangible benefits in terms of pricing and innovation that policy makers in several states are beginning to consider once again taking steps to introduce competition in electricity to retail customers. Given the demonstrably superior performance of retail choice markets, a coming second wave of retail electricity market restructuring has begun, as evidenced by ongoing debates in Nevada and California.

Consumers want and expect choices. Given the stunning economic and technological transformation underway in the electricity industry, it makes little sense to cling to a monopoly regulatory model for electricity that is a vestige of 19th century economic thinking and a barrier to the efficient 21st century clean-energy economy that consumers and policymakers seek to embrace.
Darrin Pfannenstiel, senior vice president and associate general counsel for Stream, a Dallas-based competitive retail energy supplier, is president of the Retail Energy Supply Association, a broad and diverse group of retail energy suppliers who share the common vision that competitive retail electricity and natural gas markets deliver a more efficient, customer-oriented outcome than the regulated utility structure.

Article by: DARRIN PFANNENSTIEL

Source: https://morningconsult.com/opinions/consumers-fare-better-competitive-electricity-markets/

Explaining the 3 Most Common Sources of Renewable Energy

Nowadays, homeowners are looking for ways to both save on energy costs in the home while helping the environment. The best way to do so is by investing in renewable energy sources, but since there are so many available for use, it can be confusing to differentiate between all the options available to you.
So, to help prevent some of the confusion here is a short and simple guide on the different types of renewable energy that are available.

Biomass

Simply put, biomass is the breaking down of organic materials and converting them into other forms of energy. This is the most popular form of renewable energy and the focus on using biomass is to cut down on the release of carbon dioxide into the air. Across the nation, the two most common forms of biomass include:

-Biofuel: Also known as biodiesel, this oil is produced from fats and oils and is used instead of fossil fuels such as gasoline.
-Bioethanol: This fuel is created by fermenting carbohydrates found in crops such as sugarcane or corn.

Wind Power

Considered a very reliable form of renewable energy, this is the simple action of harnessing the wind to create electricity. Many utility companies prefer to use wind power as it is an incredibly consistent source of power and can be almost unlimited with the construction of wind turbines.

Solar Power

Have you ever noticed homes with large sheets of window-like panels on their roof? If so, they are utilizing solar power as an energy source. This is when you use solar cells, created by crystalline silicon that absorbs protons from the sun's heat and transfers them into electrons. Solar energy is so versatile that it can be used for anything from a small residential home to powering a massive commercial plant.

Even if you choose to utilize one of these energy sources in your home, there are still small things you can do every day that will save you money on energy costs, while helping the environment in the long run. For example, planting trees near your home! The reductions in energy use from shade trees can save up to 2.4 tons of CO2 emissions per year!

Besides planting trees and incorporating renewable energy into your home, there are plenty of ways to save energy in your home!  Some quick internet research can help you find cost effective and eco-friendly energy solutions for you and your home.

What Happens to Solar Power During an Eclipse?

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On August 21st, 2017, the United States will see its first full solar eclipse in a generation. While solar eclipses are an exciting time for parents and small children, who experience them with wonder, they can also pose a number of difficulties.

Utility suppliers and anyone working at a green energy company in California are particularly inconvenienced by the eclipse. According to California's grid operator, the net demand for energy will rise by 6,000 megawatts as the solar output collapses -- that's roughly the equivalent to the power needs of Los Angeles. 

While renewable energy is growing in popularity in the United States -- with more than 13% of energy generation coming from renewable sources -- it will take time for utility suppliers to learn all of the subtle challenges inherent in every energy source.

For instance, hydropower can be susceptible to both drought and flooding, whereas oil is dependent on large economic costs and dangerous working conditions. 

While solar power is necessarily variable thanks to its dependence on clear skies, this total lack of energy generating ability comes at a high cost. According to the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), the amount of lost energy generation could amount to 70 megawatts per minute. 

There is also the challenge of the rapid decline and reintroduction of the solar light, which is significantly more than would naturally be experienced.

In order to compensate for the loss, energy providers are taking steps to prepare themselves. The first step is to set aside energy reserves to be used during the eclipse. The second is looking for ways to maximize the hydroelectric generation. 

One small blessing, according to Amber Motley, manager of CAISO, is the timing of the eclipse, which comes after a historically rainy winter season.