During this season of thanks, we’re reflecting on our clean energy mission and the strides we’ve made because of your efforts to support a cleaner environment. Enjoying the beautiful colors of fall all around us helps us keep preserving our precious resources a priority. Your eco-endeavors have helped avoid almost 37.7 billion pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. That’s equivalent to:
- Taking 3.6 million cars off the road for a year
- 7 million households turning off their lights for a year
- Planting 4.5 million trees
Why is avoiding CO2 emissions good?
Carbon dioxide is a significant greenhouse gas responsible for holding heat in the atmosphere. The increase of greenhouse gases contributes to the greenhouse effect, which is one of the leading causes of global warming. Your efforts to cut carbon dioxide emissions are actually aiding in the climate change solution.
And because of your dedication to us, we are also the nation’s longest-serving renewable energy retailer – what an amazing accomplishment. And that’s all because of you!
We want to thank each and every one of you for your commitment to achieve cleaner energy with renewable resources.
So, do you know how we work our eco-magic to ensure your carbon footprint is shrinking? We use renewable energy certificates (RECs) and carbon offsets to your advantage.
RECs
Renewable energy certificates represent the environmental attributes of one megawatt-hour of renewable energy. They can be sold separately from the actual electricity produced by a wind farm or other renewable energy facility. When an REC is purchased, we’ve offset the electricity used by ensuring renewable energy is put on the grid on your behalf.
Carbon offsets
Carbon offsets are investments in projects that reduce or avoid carbon dioxide emissions. Preventing deforestation, capturing methane at landfills and wastewater treatment facilities, and using energy more efficiently are all examples of projects where carbon offsets might be sourced. Destroying or sequestering the equivalent greenhouse gas emissions in one place to offset carbon emissions taking place somewhere else is basically how it works. When at least one metric ton (2,200 pounds) of greenhouse gas emissions has been reduced or avoided, then a carbon offset has been achieved.
As the year starts to wind down, take a moment to reflect on all that you’ve achieved around your home to better our environment. Then ask yourself, “Could I add a touch of green in my day-to-day activities, too?” In just a few easy steps you can find out how to neutralize your carbon footprint so that even Mother Nature will feel indebted to you for your eco-actions.
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