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Home | Clear Choice | Clear Choice FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions - Renewable Energy- What is renewable energy?
- Is there a difference between "renewable" and "clean" energy?
- What is Green-e?
- Will I need to rewire my home?
- What are the most commonly used clean energy sources?
- Would you explain how wind is used as a source for electricity?
- What if the wind doesn't blow? Will my power be shut off?
- How would I know if I receive clean energy at my home or business?
- Don't wind turbines kill a lot of birds?
- What is the greenhouse effect?
- What is the impact of increased greenhouse gases?
1. What is renewable energy?
"Renewable energy: Any energy resource that is naturally regenerated over a
short time scale and derived directly from the sun (such as thermal,
photochemical, and photoelectric), indirectly from the sun (such as wind,
hydropower, and photosynthetic energy stored in biomass), or from other natural
movements and mechanisms of the environment (such as geothermal and tidal
energy).Renewable energy does not include energy resources derived from fossil fuels,
waste products from fossil sources or waste products from inorganic sources." TOP
2. Is there a difference between "renewable" and "clean" energy?
No. It is just a different name for the same type of energy. Commerce Energy's
Clear Choice program uses the phrase "clean energy."
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3. What is Green-e?
Green-e is the nation's leading independent certification and verification
program for renewable energy and companies that use renewable energy.
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4. Will I need to rewire my home?
No. When you purchase clean energy from Commerce Energy's Clear Choice program,
you will still be connected to the same regional power grid that provides your
power now.
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5. What are the most commonly used clean energy sources?
The clean energy sources most commonly used to fuel green power are wind,
landfill gas and small or low-impact hydropower. A number of products also
contain a small amount of solar energy.
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6. Would you explain how wind is used as a source for
electricity?
Wind power is generated when the wind is captured by wind turbines. According to
the U.S. Department of Energy, wind power has been the fastest growing source
of energy in the world since 1990. National electrical grids are powered by large-scale wind farms. Smaller,
individual turbines use wind energy to provide electricity to rural residences
or grid-isolated locations. When used to replace fossil-fuel energy sources, wind energy mitigates the
greenhouse effect. Wind, as a source of energy, is ample, renewable, widely
distributed and clean. TOP
7. What if the wind doesn't blow? Will my power be shut off?
No. You will receive the same reliable electricity whether the wind blows or
not. Clean energy purchased by you is combined with energy from all other
generating sources and placed on the electric grid to match your level of
participation.
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8. How would I know if I receive clean energy at my home or
business?
The clean energy you purchase is pooled with energy produced by fossil fuels.
Whether the energy that directly provides electricity for your home or business
is produced by wind or some other source, your choice to purchase electricity
from Commerce Energy's Clear Choice Clean Energy program results in your
support of the stability and growth of the wind-generation industry and a
cleaner environment.
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9. Don't wind turbines kill a lot of birds?
Studies show that, while there are some bird deaths, the numbers are fairly
small. In fact, according to the 2001 National Wind Coordinating Committee
study, "Avian Collisions with Wind Turbines: A Summary of Existing Studies and
Comparisons to Other Sources of Avian Collision Mortality in the United
States," there have been 2.19 bird deaths per turbine per year. There are far
more birds killed each year by cars, trucks and windows than by wind turbines.
In the U.S., cars and trucks collide with millions of birds each year, while
100 million to 1 billion birds crash into windows.
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10. What is the greenhouse effect?
The greenhouse effect, first discovered by Joseph Fourier in 1824, and first
investigated quantitatively by Svante Arrhenius in 1896, is the process in
which the absorption of infrared radiation by an atmosphere warms a planet.
Without these greenhouse gases, the Earth's surface would be up to 60° F
cooler. Emissions from burning fossil fuels may add to these long-term greenhouse gases,
which could result in rising temperatures here on Earth. Even a slight increase
in the Earth's temperature may result in climate change, with potentially
adverse effects on people, economies and the environment. Replacing fossil
fuels with clean energy provides needed energy without adding to greenhouse
gases. TOP
11. What is the impact of increased greenhouse gases?
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), scientists know
with virtual certainty that:- The atmospheric buildup of CO2 and other greenhouse gases is largely the result
of human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels.
- A warming trend of about 0.7 to 1.5°F occurred during the 20th century.
- The major greenhouse gases emitted by human activities remain in the atmosphere
for periods ranging from decades to centuries. It is therefore virtually
certain that atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases will continue to
rise over the next few decades.
- Increasing greenhouse gas concentrations tend to warm the planet. For
additional information on climate change and its possible impacts, visit the EPA Web site.
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