Green Power Makes International Grid

Green power is a term used to describe energy, specifically electricity that is generated from natural resources. This energy source leaves no carbon imprint nor does it pollute the environment. The use of "green" as an adjective to describe this type of power refers to the fact that these resources are natural and could be key in making our little planet clean, green and healthy.

Sources of green energy are plants, sun, wind, waves, and anaerobic digestion. Some broadening definitions include burning of human by-products, trash, as green because it is recycling.

In some countries, you can specify that you wish your retail energy purchases to come from green sources. In others, it is a mandatory requirement that the utility provider sell a certain portion of their retail product as green power. The UK has a Renewable Obligation where energy suppliers are legally required to purchase some of their power from green sources. The Dutch government provides a tax incentive, in the form of exemption from pollution taxes, for green power generation. The amount of green energy that is available for retail distribution is still only approximately 2 - 3 % of the total power worldwide in 2008.

In order to encourage further use of green power, utilities must invest in finding and building new resources. This is encouraged on an international level by the World Wide Fund for Nature. The organization certifies energy programs as "green" when they commit to reinvesting the profits from the sale of green energy back into development of new forms of sustainable energy.

With the raising price of fossil fuels, green power is something that every one should look in to and apply to their own energy consumption.