A Contributed Post: How to Choose a Green Energy Plan for Your Business
In today’s turbulent economy, businesses are searching for ways to lower operating costs while seeking to raise their PR on protecting the environment. A method that has become increasingly popular in recent years is a switch from reliance on non-renewable energy to sourcing only renewable “green energy” to operate their business. As more statistics emerge as to the benefit of switching to green energy, companies are looking for ways to switch to plans with providers that can help them go green.
In fact, for all of the conversation in the press about green energy, statistics show that renewable sources of energy will soon dominate the market. In a recent piece from Forbes.com, data has emerged showing that green energy generated by solar and wind sources will overtake non-renewable sources in 2020. An increase of 76% in usage and an accrued 42 gigawatts (GW) of zero-emission capacity will dominate the energy market this year. In stark contrast, the same study used data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) to show that coal and natural gas will show big numbers only in the closure of 85% of plants across the country.
The trend has held true, with the EIA reporting that in April of 2019, the use of green-energy sourced electricity exceeded coal-sourced energy for the first time since records began being kept by the agency.
If your business is considering jumping over to clean, green energy, it is important to know your options as well as the process for making the switch. Read on for tips on how to choose and switch to the best green energy plan for your business.
Defining Green Energy
Green energy is a concept that often arises in conversation carrying the weight of bias and political baggage. Much of what is assumed about green energy can be cleared up with a simple understanding of what green energy is and how green energy can benefit both the environment and your business.
Simply put, the term “green energy” refers to the energy that is generated through a variety of sources that are renewable and safe on the environment. These methods can include the ones most commonly seen in media, such as solar and wind, and other less-talked-about sources like biofuel and hydropower. Due to it’s being renewable and accessed without harming or depleting the source, green energy is often referred to as sustainable energy and does not produce harmful pollutants into the surrounding environment.
Today, most suppliers will seek to make green energy options available to businesses and residents through green energy plans that provide power at a cost that is much lower than common non-renewable energy sources. If your business is interested in finding a green energy solution, it is likely that you may pay a higher premium to access this growing energy option, but the savings will grow as time passes.
How To Choose A Green Energy Plan
Is your business ready to make the switch to renewable energy? Once you have decided to make the switch, the first step is to take the time to navigate the various options and research the providers in your area that feature green energy plans that suit your particular operating needs. You aren’t alone in the journey. Energy experts such as the team at EnergyBot can help you navigate the particulars of the green energy switch process, taking the confusion out of the process and choosing the right plan for your business.
Once you find some companies that will offer green plans, you will want to select a fully-green energy plan that is considered 100% renewable and compare the rates of that plan with the traditional plan you currently have. If the costs of green energy outweigh traditional plans, then consider an option of partial green energy to start taking steps toward moving to fully-renewable over time. Many companies will over plans that allow you to customize the percentage of your energy that is made up of green sources.
Once you find a company and plan that suits your energy needs, there are still a few considerations to take into account before signing up and switching. First, take time to research Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) that can help ensure that your energy was generated by a green source – even if it was outside of the locale your business calls home. Also, make sure to look into the green energy sources being used in your local or state area – this can help you with valuable PR opportunities as customers begin searching for companies that are green energy-minded. Finally, ensure that your new green energy plan is a fixed-rate plan, which will ensure that the rate does not change over time, even as the technology advances and becomes more valuable.
Make The Switch To Green Today
Making a switch as monumental – and likely historic – as the move to green energy can seem overwhelming and complicated. However, as we have seen above, the process is becoming easier by the day. As energy providers create new methods to encourage businesses toward green energy options, the time has never been better to make the switch.
There is a unique opportunity afforded to those businesses who are bold enough to make the switch – when green energy becomes the accepted and celebrated source of utilities, your business can lead the pack, showing how green energy has not only helped keep your business running, but has made it thrive. Customers will love to see a business that cares for the world they inhabit.
