Providing clients with renewable energy alternatives
Renewable Energy Technologies: Identifying Affordable Alternatives
GreenBridge Energy and its consortium partners are involved in delivering the following renewable energy technologies and programs:
Energy Conservation and Efficiency
Not only is conservation behavior related (e.g., turning off lights), it also involves improving the efficiencies of energy systems and building controls. Often, the implementation of a comprehensive energy conservation plan is the first step in adopting a commitment to renewable energy. GreenBridge has helped organizatons develop and implement a wide range of innovative conservation and energy management programs.Geothermal Energy
Geothermal energy taps the Earth's internal heat for a variety of uses, including the heating and cooling of buildings. Geothermal energy is relatively cost-effective, and recent improvements in materials, equipment and installation procedures have made geothermal systems more attractive to implement. In fact, according to the U.S. EPA, geothermal systems are "the most energy-efficient, environmentally clean, and cost-effective space conditioning system available today." A geothermal unit typically supplies four to five kilowatts of heat for every kilowatt of electricity used. The systems also take advantage of the mild ground temperature for high efficient cooling, and they can include hot water generators that divert a portion of the supplied heat to the domestic hot water heater.Fuel Cells
These devices create electricity and heat (for steam, hot water, and cooling) through an electrochemical process in which a fuel and oxidant (air) combine through a catalytic reaction. The required fuel is hydrogen, which can be supplied as pure gas or reformed from hydrocarbons like natural gas. If the source of the fuel is carbon-neutral, then so is the energy made by the fuel cell. Today, fuel cells are reaching their potential as the cleanest and most reliable sources of renewable energy. With 95% power availability and electric power generation efficiency of approximately 45%, fuel cells represent a viable means of producing clean power — reliably, consistently and on demand.Wind Energy
Wind energy is the fastest growing power source in the world and is among the cheapest types of renewable energy. Wind generators are relatively efficient, and new technologies have produced a variety of options to consider. Larger wind facilities can be difficult to permit due to community restrictions; however, single units offer viable alternatives.Biomass
Biomass is organic matter that can generate electricity and produce liquid fuels for transportation (e.g., ethanol, biodiesel). Biomass also may include biodegradable wastes that can be burnt as fuel. In cases where a facility location is close to a source of waste fuel (e.g., landfill, paper or logging plant, etc.), a co-generation plant that burns such waste fuels could prove to be economically and environmentally advantageous.Fuel Switching & Cogeneration
For facilities that generate their own heating and cooling in centralized plants, two alternative technologies can lead to significantly reduced carbon emissions. First, facilities can switch from high-carbon fuels to lower-carbon fuels like oil and natural gas. Natural gas produces about 40% less carbon than coal. Second, equipment can be installed that generates both electricity and heat, called cogeneration or CHP (combined heat and power). And for greater savings, both methods can be implemented simultaneously.Solar Energy
Sunlight, or solar energy, can be used directly for heating and lighting buildings, generating electricity, providing solar cooling, pumping water, and meeting a variety of other facility needs. Although solar energy is regulated by the availability of sunlight, its availability often coincides with peak usage. There are three forms of solar energy:- Solar Electric (PV) - Solar photovoltaic panels may be installed on building roof-tops, over parking lots, and on freestanding structures.
- Solar Thermal - Solar thermal collector systems are able to use sunlight to heat water for indoor swimming pools, gymnasiums, science labs, cafeterias, dormitories, etc. Solar water heating systems can dramatically reduce energy and maintenance costs of many public facilities, especially those that use significant amounts of hot water. The payback period is generally seven to 10 years, or less.
- Passive Solar - Sunlight can be effectively used as alternative lighting for buildings or to retain or re-radiate heat, cutting overall energy needs.