GreenPower
Reducing household greenhouse gases.
What is GreenPower?
GreenPower is an accredited program for renewable energy - energy generated from sources that are continuous, such as solar & wind - established by the NSW Government in 1997. Since 1997 all mainland states have adopted the GreenPower accreditation program.
Consumers can choose to purchase a variety of GreenPower accredited products from their electricity retailer. When you purchase GreenPower your electricity retailer is committed to buying the requested amount of electricity from approved new renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar.
Why purchase GreenPower?
Purchasing GreenPower is way to eliminate remaining household greenhouse gas emissions after all avenues, such as creating an energy efficient home, have been exhausted. Depending on the amount of energy your household uses per year, you can reduce your household greenhouse gas emissions to zero.
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions will help to reduce the effects of climate change, an issue that is already beginning to have a large impact on the planet.
Purchasing GreenPower
GreenPower products vary in price depending on the electricity retailer, and they can also have differing levels of accreditation. These differing levels of accreditation are set at 10%, 20%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%.
Essentially the level of accreditation indicates how much government accredited green energy you are purchasing. For example, if a consumer chooses to purchase a product from their electricity retailer that is 20% GreenPower accredited, they are purchasing 100% green electricity but only 20% is accredited GreenPower and the remaining 80% is from non-accredited sources.
Non-accredited sources are any renewable energy projects built before January 1997, or hydro schemes that impact heavily on the environment.
How can I be sure the electricity coming to my house is GreenPower?
The electricity that comes to your house is no different from the electricity going to other households in your area that do not purchase GreenPower. This is because all electricity produced in NSW is fed into the same grid systems, and networks are unable to separate out non-renewable electricity from renewable.
However, by purchasing GreenPower your electricity provider must ensure that amount of renewable energy is fed into the system. This ensures continuous investment in new renewables to keep up with the demand for renewable energy, above and beyond what the government has committed to providing.
How is Council involved with GreenPower?
As of mid March 2007, Coffs Harbour City Council began purchasing countrygreen energy - business from Country Energy. This is a 100% green energy product with 10% accredited GreenPower.
Council is also currently undertaking GreenPower promotions within the community. This project requires Council to actively promote GreenPower in the community through advertising and media, shopping centre displays and information sessions among other initiatives.
More information on GreenPower:
- GreenPower website
- Department of Energy, Utilities & Sustainability (now Department of Water & Energy) website
- Green Electricity Watch (scores various renewable energy products so you can be clearer on what you are buying)
