CHOOSING RENEWABLE ENERGY AS YOUR ELECTRICITY SOURCE
Our Partner Link: Clean Choice Energy 350 NYC
The carbon dioxide emission of a typical New York City resident is 6 tons per person per year. Two thirds of this amount is from the energy you use in your buildings; electricity, natural gas, oil and steam for lighting, heating, air conditioning and stove cooking.
A major opportunity for you to reduce your personal carbon emissions is to switch your electricity supply (source) to a company that generates its electricity mostly from wind. Your delivery company, Con Edison, buys electricity from this company according to the demand and feeds it into its NYC grid. This is referred to as Green Power Purchasing.
Currently the overall percent of renewable energy in the NYC grid is very small (3%), but this is projected to increase dramatically as off-shore wind comes online in the next 10 years. Wind energy is a major part of the solution to NYC achieving 80% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050.
HOW DOES GREEN POWER PURCHASING WORK?
Whether you rent or own your apartment, every New Yorker who pays their own utility bill is able to choose a supplier that uses wind or solar power.
You will keep your current electric company and receive the same billing
You do not need any special equipment or meter
There is no contract and no fee to switch
Just call or go online to your chosen supplier and the customer service representative will guide you through next steps. You’ll need your electricity bill in hand when you call.
A useful source for consumer information about Green Power is the NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority)
350NYC.ORG RECOMMENDS CLEAN CHOICE ENERGY AS YOUR SUPPLIER
350NYC reviewed over 30 independent energy suppliers in 2014 and chose to partner with Clean Choice Energy (previously known as Ethical Electric) for this project. If you opt for Clean Choice Energy, there is the added benefit that 350NYC will receive a $150 sign-on bonus to support our efforts to combat climate change. A win-win for the environment and the climate movement
If you decide on this choice, please go to Clean Choice Energy 350 NYC to sign-up. Thank you!
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
The renewable energy supply company you select now has rates comparable to the regular ConEd rates; Clean Choice Energy is now 9.4 cents/kWh, and ask for the 1 year fixed rate. When you choose 100% wind energy, you are deciding to divest your dollars from fossil fuel and invest in wind energy production. As more people make this choice, the demand will increase and the cost of renewable energy will drop. Divest & Reinvest!
HOW MUCH CARBON CAN I PREVENT FROM GOING INTO THE ATMOSPHERE IF I SWITCH TO WIND ENERGY?
Every little bit helps! If you switch to 100% wind, on average a New Yorker would emit 2 tons of CO2 less per year. Together that adds up to a huge impact.
“If just 10% of New York’s households choose Green Power for their electricity supply, it would prevent nearly 3 billion pounds of carbon dioxide, 10 million pounds of sulfur dioxide, and nearly 4 million pounds of nitrogen oxides from getting into our air each year. Green Power helps us all breathe a little easier.” – Public Service Commission