Reduce organizational carbon footprint
Organizations that purchase low- or zero-emissions green power may
claim to be reducing indirect (or Scope 2) emissions associated with purchased electricity—emissions that are owned
and are the direct responsibility of the utility or other owner of the generating facility, but that are the indirect responsibility of the consumers of the electricity produced. Although consumers cannot directly control the generating
facility that produces their electricity, they can influence the generator indirectly through their demand side choices.
This is especially useful if the organization is accounting for its emissions through an inventory using the Greenhouse
Gas (GHG) Protocol Corporate Reporting Standard.
Reduce air pollution
Conventional electricity generation from fossil fuels is one of the single largest industrial
sources of air pollution (for sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, mercury and certain types of particulate matter) in
Australia.
The emissions from conventional electricity generation contribute to a number of serious environmental problems. Green power generates fewer emissions than conventional power, helping to protect human
health and the environment. According to a study by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the National
Renewable Energy Laboratory, emission reductions from each megawatt-hour of new renewable generation produced health and environmental benefits ranging from $26 to $101 per megawatt-hour (MWh).
Reduce water environmental impacts
Most green power technologies do not consume water and have a negligible
impact on local aquatic ecosystems.
Conventional power generation often requires water for fuel extraction, steam
production and power plant cooling. The release of spent cooling water increases the temperature of local water
resources, which can alter aquatic ecosystems. In contrast, most green power systems do not consume water or
release it into the environment. A joint study by two national laboratories found that adding new renewable electricity to the grid resulted in water savings equivalent to 8,420 gallons of withdrawal and 270 gallons of consumption for
each megawatt-hour produced.
