The Impact of Going Green

“Going Green” is all the rage right now and you want to join the movement.  But does it really make a difference, and if so, how can you measure the impact doing your part has on the environment?

Well, it DOES make a difference, and there IS a simple way for you to see how “Going Green” impacts your carbon footprint.  The Environmental Protection Agency has developed a Greenhouse Gases Equivalencies Calculator which shows the equivalencies for electricity-related emissions reductions from energy efficiency or renewable programs. 

This calculator uses AVERT, the AVoided Emissions and geneRation Tool U.S. national weighted average CO₂ marginal emission rate to convert reductions of kilowatt-hours into avoided units of carbon dioxide emissions.  It’s easy to use, and only requires the number of annual kilowatt-hours of electricity used to be input into the box before clicking the “Calculate” button.  You can also select “gallons of gasoline”, “MCF of natural gas”, “Therms of natural gas”, and “Passenger vehicles” if you prefer to see your calculations on those emissions, instead.

The Greenhouse Gases Equivalencies Calculator shows the avoided CO₂ emissions in several example forms, so each individual can see their impact in a view relatable to their lifestyle.  Some of the different categories include: 

Greenhouse Gas Emissions from: 

• Number of passenger vehicles driven for one year
• Miles driven by an average passenger vehicle

CO₂ Emissions from:

• Gallons of gasoline consumed
• Pounds of coal burned
• Homes’ energy use for one year
• Homes’ electricity use for one year
• Propane cylinders used for home barbecues
• Number of smartphones charged

Greenhouse Gas Emissions avoided by:

• Tons of waste recycled instead of landfilled
• Trash bags of waste recycled instead of landfilled
• Wind turbines running for a year
• Incandescent lamps switched to LED

Carbon Sequestered by:

• Tree seedlings grown for ten years
• Acres of US forests in one year
• Acres of US forests preserved from conversion to cropland in one year

How can I Join the Green Movement?

AEP Energy is all about “Going Green”!  We offer an environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional electricity plans with ECO-Advantage®, which matches 100% of your electricity usage with national Green-e® Energy¹ certified, wind Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs).  Green-e Energy, the nation’s leading independent certification and verification program for renewable energy, certifies that ECO-Advantage meets the highest environmental and consumer protection standards.  Sound good?  You can find a price plan that’s right for you, here!

There’s another easy way to “Go Green” with AEP Energy.  When you enroll or renew in an AEP Energy plan, you begin to accumulate Reward Dollars which can be redeemed in AEP Energy Reward Store!  It’s our one-stop online marketplace filled with a variety of energy-saving and connected-home products for your home, available exclusively for our valued customers.  We can help you find energy efficient items which can enhance the impact of your carbon footprint!

1Green-e Energy certifies that ECO-Advantage meets the minimum environmental and consumer protection standards established by the non-profit Center for Resource Solutions. For more information about Green-e Energy, write Green-e Energy, 1012 Torney Avenue, 2nd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94129, or log onto www.green-e.org.

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