Green Energy Gets Smart

It was so many decades ago that there were approximately 2.5 billion people on the planet, and of that number, approximately 152 million lived in the United States. Citizens of the U.S. expected a strong power supply to keep their refrigerators cold, their air conditioners humming and their radios and TVs going. The power infrastructure was expected to accommodate the constant ebb and flow of energy consumers on-again, off-again mindset, and the power companies understood that they had to move quickly to fulfill that demand as well as grow to meet the coming demand. 

Since then, the U.S. population has grown to approximately 320 million, and the amount of electricity use has also grown greatly even as a plethora of companies have and continue to conceive and improve consumer goods requiring electricity. In 2013, American energy consumption was measured to have been more than 13 times greater than what was used in 1950. The power grid has grown as well, and while it sometimes has some hiccups, the huge consumer and commercial use it maintains is constantly being improved. 

The amount of electricity consumption in the U.S. will give one a jolt: in 2014 alone, about 3.8 billion kilowatt hours were used to power American residential, commercial, industrial and transportation. The load this puts on power companies is significant, of course, and 36% of the use was consumed by residential use. As such, this is where much of the advancement in power use, savings and measurement may be found. 

Within the residential use of electricity, power companies have determined that most of that use is for heating, lighting and air conditioning. Nearly as much as those three are refrigeration and some appliances (such as TVs and other entertainment equipment) account for a significant amount of the electricity consumed. It has also been determined that somewhere around 40% of the electricity goes to laundry appliances (primarily clothes washers and dryers) as well as computers and computer peripherals. Nevertheless, advancements in appliances’ use of power continues to be a focus. These days, the average American refrigerator is 20% larger but costs 60% less than those sold in 1975, and it uses about three-quarters less energy. 

In the commercial sector, the single biggest use of electricity is for lighting. This amount of lighting covered is so vast as to seem invisible to us until we think about how our world would be if lighting were cut off. Street lights, parking lots, the bright exterior lights on buildings and the significant amount of lighting required to keep stores, offices and parks well-lit. Even small, seemingly little-used spaces require constant lighting: elevators, closets, walk-in freezers, dressing rooms, stairwells, underground parking lots and bathrooms are all examples of places that we each use but a few minutes of the day but because of safety reasons require near-constant and bright lighting. In time, alternative electricity for your business will be a big part of the typical business plan. 

Despite the great use of power in America, it is not constantly being increased in large amounts. Improvements in the efficiency of appliances, economic downturns and consumers’ careful use of energy consumption has contributed to a slight decline of power between 2008 and 2014. Smart meters are one aspect that helps power companies to understand when consumers’ power demands are at the highest, lowest and between the two. Approximately 50 million smart meters have been installed in U.S. homes, a figure which represents perhaps 43% of American homes overall. Smart meters also cut down on the energy required to read meters, which is significant when one thinks of the fuel, manpower and vehicle maintenance needed for power companies to get this done. 

Alternative power companies have entered the field over the last few decades and continue to improve market share as well as contribute to energy savings via green energy appliances, programmable thermostats, housing improvements and smart meters. There will also be newer and more easily acquired alternative energy sources that will allow consumers to choose energy sources that best fit their lifestyles.

Don't Let Your Energy Bill Sap all of YOUR Energy! Simple Solutions to Save Some Cash

What are the top three expenses in your home? If one of them is electricity, then you may be paying too much! The deregulation of electricity markets has caused prices for electricity and energy usage to rise in the last several years, which can lead to unnecessary spending on your part. The average energy bill per household is still approximately $107, which is a bit steep. So if you're looking for ways to save on your next energy bill, here are a few easy and convenient ways to keep that hard earned cash in your pocket.

Turn off the lights!

That's right, doing something as simple as turning off the lights when you're not in a room can save you money! Power companies may generate the electricity you use, but in the end, you're the one paying for it. If you don't need a light on in the house, then leave the light off! Using the sun coming into your house during the day also provides a more natural lighting and allows you to soak up a little bit of the vitamin D!

Keep the heat down!

If you get cold easily, make sure to throw on an extra pair of socks, because keeping your thermostat at a consistently low temperature can save you some cash! In fact, you can save an estimated 10% on your bills by using a programmable thermostat in your home. Don't let energy companies get the best of you! Besides, wouldn't you rather invest in some quality sweaters than another $50 on your heating bill?

Do you really need to blast the AC?

One of the largest uses of electricity is your AC unit. Annually, AC accounts for approximately 19% of residential electricity use, and that's just in the United States! Keeping your thermostat a little bit higher can save you a lot of money! In addition, by turning your AC off for a little while, you can let those cool summer breezes drift through your home. Fresh air never hurt anyone, especially not those energy suppliers.

The deregulation of electricity markets has provided opportunities for you to look into alternative electricity companies. But whatever provider you choose, you should always choose to save your money!

How Renewable Energy Could Help Save Our Planet

We always hear about saving the planet and 'going green' and all of those catch phrases that should inspire us to be more careful with the world around us. Recycling is a fantastic way to keep our planet green but it is not the only way that we can be environmentally friendly; renewable energy is also a major source of environmentally friendly elements that can make a real difference to the earth. Let me explain a little bit about what it's all about. 

What is renewable energy? 

This is electricity that is generated from natural and renewable sources. Renewable energy sources are sometimes known as "green energy sources" because of the relatively small effects it has on the environment compared to fossil fuels. A few examples of renewable energy are solar energy, hydroelectricity and wind energy. These are great alternative energy sources for your home and business.

Why is renewable energy better?

Renewable energy companies take the renewable energy and reduce the carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere. Reducing what is known as the carbon footprint can also reduce climate change. If we use these green energy sources we can lessen the amount of fossil fuel gas and oil reserves that we use.

How much does a renewable energy cost for me to use?

According to several power companies, if you want to use renewable energy in your home or work, green energy can cut in a little more to your monthly budget.  However, this additional money is used towards environmental projects in the production of the renewable energy. If you look around you should be able to find an option that works best for you. Remember, the amount of energy you can save may make up for any additional green energy costs.

How can I find renewable energy companies?

Renewable energy companies, also known as alternative energy companies, can be found throughout the country.  You can try searching for renewable energy companies that service your area from your favorite search engine.

What are all the renewable energy sources?

Solar energy

Wind energy

Hydroelectricity

Geothermal energy

Bio-diesel

Biomass

Solar energy

Solar energy can be broken down to either electricity or water heating. The electricity portion uses photovoltaic cells and makes for nubile electricity from the sunlight. Solar water heating comes from dark panels that would be installed on the roof to absorb the solar energy and turn it into heat.

Wind energy

Wind turbines are powered by the wind and generate renewable energy in the wind farms. If you want to generate your own energy it is possible to install a small wind turbine on your property.

Hydroelectricity

This kind comes from the power that can come from rivers and the sea. Power plants can dam rivers and put barriers in the sea to capture the power. This one is a little bit controversial as some people believe it is bad for the environment.

Geothermal energy

Heat is used from the earth's core in order to make electricity or heat. Volcanic areas are ideal for producing this type of energy because the heat from the earth's core is the closest to the surface.

Bio diesel 

Using bio diesel could burn less fossil feels even though it does take up a lot of land. Bio diesel is made from natural oils but before it can be used in cars it is mixed with normal diesel fuel.

Biomass

This is the organic matters like crops, manure and even wood.

Overall, renewable energy sources can help reduce our carbon footprint to protect the environment. Taking part in being environmentally friendly can save the planet not just for us and our children but so our children's children can have a nice, loved and functioning place to live for many more years to come.

New Bill a Step Towards Deregulated Electricity In Arizona

The interest in -- and progress with -- deregulated electricity and energy companies has generally grown at an exponential rate over the last few years. Presumably, as a direct result of the rising costs power suppliers are asking for. The average monthly electric bill for an average American now costs about $107 (or 903 kilowatt hours). 

While many states have already deregulated energy markets to allow for more competition and better rates/service for the consumer, there are still many that are stuck in the old model of energy suppliers, who use only one utility service. Arizona may be one such state for now, but a new piece of legislation that's currently going through the process of being enacted could help to change that. 

According to the industry news source ElectricChoice.com, Arizona State Senator Carlyle Begay is behind the new bill that would create a new power district in Navajo County. While this particular bill would not be for completely deregulated electricity, it would allow individual counties (as opposed to citizens) to make choices with private businesses that could improve the quality and reliability of their services. 

"This legislation is designed to form a power district in Navajo County, creating a new source of revenue for the county, as well as jobs," said Skyler Careaga, Chief Executive Officer of SEC Power. "This legislation should also help with spurring the local economy, creating new business development with a redundant, secure source of power and infrastructure for businesses to operate." 

Most importantly of all, perhaps, is the fact that it would all be done without raising local taxes, since it would be privately funded and developed. Careaga was also quick to point to an Excel document he had that shows 64 pages of power outages between 2006 and 2009 alone. Many of these are believed to have been avoidable under the conditions of the new bill. 

As technology has evolved, our electricity usage has increased accordingly. In 2013 U.S. electricity use was 13 times greater than it was in 1950. Fortunately, the cost of generating electrons currently accounts for less than half of the price of electricity, according to the Edison Electric Institute. As recently as 1995, it accounted for two-thirds. 

While the bill won't establish completely-deregulated electricity, it could be an important step in opening the eyes of citizens who have been reluctant to explore changes to the way electricity and energy are provided and show everyone how efficient the private sector can be in a traditionally public domain.

The Main Types of Alternative Energy Today

Why exactly are alternative energy companies becoming such a major part of the energy industry today? For two main reasons: alternative electricity for your home or business can potentially provide savings for some consumers in the immediate future, while the variety of energy sources can allow for environmentally friendly energy options in the long run. 

As alternative power companies are given more opportunities to provide valuable resources to their customers, thanks in part to the deregulation of electricity markets, more effective and affordable energy sources become available. Here are just a few of the most common types of alternative power sources provided by energy companies today: 

Solar Energy: Harnessing the natural power of solar rays from the sun, solar energy has been an important source of energy since before "power companies" were even a thing! Solar energy is used more often than any other alternative energy source globally. 

Wind Energy: A bit less common (and reliable) than solar energy -- but just as powerful -- is wind-powered energy. This form of natural energy has actually been used for hundreds of years: think of how ships used their sails to navigate the seas, or how windmills in colonial times allowed farmers and shop owners to manage automated tasks (like grinding grains). 

Geothermal Energy: Geothermal energy is easily one of the most powerful forms of energy today, and it can be found nearly anywhere. This energy source uses heat which is produced deep under the Earth's surface, where molten rock and lava are constantly churning, and heat pumps convert this heat into steam so that it can power generators in homes and businesses. As long as the Earth keeps producing heat, this form of energy has the possibility of remaining renewable indefinitely. 

There are several other types of power sources which alternative energy companies are starting to tap into -- and it's never too early to start learning about these sources and deciding if you might benefit from them!

Alternative Electricity Companies Look to Silicon Valley

As the world and the people that live in it have become more and more concerned with sustainability, energy suppliers' distributions have become an issue of importance. Many communities have already deregulated energy markets, and now one of the country's leading, innovative communities is doing the same. 

Silicon Valley has long been known as the intellectual hub when it comes to technology in the United States and now the city of Los Altos, California looks like they'll try their luck with alternative electricity companies. According to the Los Altos Town Crier, the Los Altos City Council will make their final recommendation January 26 on whether or not the Silicon Valley Community Choice Energy (CCE) Partnership will be allowed to work with the local PGandE electricity company already in place to deliver more renewable and potentially cheaper electricity. 

"It's given us a choice," said Los Altos Environmental Commission Chairman Gary Hedden, speaking on his own behalf. "To me, that’s the big attraction." 

The cost of generating and delivering electricity has decreased considerably in recent years thanks to technological advancements. For example, in 1995 the average delivered cost of electricity for investor-owned utilities was 7.1 cents per kilowatt hour and generation accounted for about two-thirds of the price. Today, generation only accounts for less than half the price, according to the Edison Electric Institute. 

For a community that's known for living on the cusp of modernization, they were hesitant to make the move from the norm. They first considered the move way back in April, and now things are finally moving after about a year. While no solid numbers on just how much consumers can expect to save on their bill are available yet, energy industry deregulation generally means more competition, better services, and ultimately better prices. 

Under the proposed partnership, CCE will actually work with PGandE. PGandE will maintain the grid and distribute the services, while CCE procures energy from alternative electricity suppliers. This strategy makes sense to at least one former member of the California Energy Commission and current resident of the area. 

"Utilities' business is to sell energy – not get customers to save energy," said Jeff Byron. "I'm keen on renewables, but the stuff I’m more interested in seeing is consumers being more efficient in their usage." 

Alternative electricity companies are a great solution to many of the problems local communities face and more officials would be wise to investigate services like Starion Energy for renewable, affordable, and reliable alternative electricity companies.

What Are Some Alternative Electricity Sources?

Electricity is a great expense when it comes to a household, with the average american living in an average home using 903 kilowatt hours per month costing $107. Air conditioning alone uses 19% of that money, which is the largest use of electricity in a U.S. household. There are, however, many alternative electricity companies that can help you find alternative energy sources for your home that are less costly. 

A few energy suppliers are:
Wind
Wind mills or turbines use wind and convert its energy to electricity. Most homes use this electricity to charge batteries that energize the home, this compensates for times when there a minimal winds. Wind is best used for electricity in are where there is naturally a great amount of wind.

Solar
Solar power gives energy during sunny days, and at night or cloudy days a grid is accessed that has stored power for those times. Solar power systems are available for both large and small homes. The grid is normally placed on the roof to receive optimal sunlight.

MicroCHP
Heavy industries often use combined heat and power (CHP) as a source of alternative electricity. The heat from fuels produced by the industry, which is normally vented, is captured by a MicroCHP unit and produces electricity. These units are advancing to combine home electrical generation, home heating, and water heating.

Combustion Engine
Combustion engines fueled by gas, natural gas, propane, or diesel are the least costly to purchase and install. However, to operate them is the most costly source of alternative electric power, which is why they are mainly used for emergency back-up where they may be frequent outages of power.The above stated power suppliers can be provided to you from alternative electricity companies. It is becoming increasingly important to find power companies that will help because electricity use keeps increasing. In fact, in 2013 U.S. electricity use was over 13 times more than 1950 electricity use.