Green Energy
Green energy involves generating electricity with renewable resources that can replenish themselves. It also limits its emissions of pollution and greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide, that cause climate change.
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There are two major aspects of green energy: generation and conservation. Green energy generation uses renewable sources of energy, including hydroelectricity, wind, solar, biogas, thermal energy, biomass, and bike generators! Ontario is relatively good at this because of our extensive hydroelectricity system from our lakes [5]. Constantly updating data on Ontario’s energy production can be found on the IESO website [6]. To better implement sustainable energy production, the amount of electricity produced by natural gas, as shown in dark blue in the pie chart, must be minimized through increased renewable energy production and storage [6].
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Energy conservation refers to reducing our energy requirements. This is just as important as generating energy sustainably. It increases the efficiency of the finite resources available on Earth and reduces the amount of energy that must be produced in the first place. Canada needs 5.1 Earths to sustain our current energy and resource demands [7]. Because we only have one Earth, energy conservation is a critical aspect of sustainable communities.
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Why are sustainable green energy practices important? Green energy supports all three pillars of sustainability: people, planet, and profit.
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Sustainable energy practices protect the planet with their reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Producing lower amounts GHGs like carbon dioxide and methane mitigates the climate crisis and gives humanity a chance at reaching its United Nations goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 OC [8]. Mitigating and avoiding the worst effects of climate change makes the world a safer, healthier, and better place today and in the future. Renewable sources of energy also ensure that future generations have the resources they need to survive and thrive.
Investing in renewable energy provides financial benefits and generating your own energy through personal renewable sources allows you to sell electricity back to the grid for profit. Additionally, conserving energy reduces electricity bills, saving money in both the short and the long term.