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If you’ve been looking for environmentally friendly ways to fuel your life, you’ve probably encountered descriptions of renewable energy and sustainable energy. Often, these terms seem to be used interchangeably, but are they the same thing?
Sometimes, but not always.
Let’s examine each of these terms more closely to understand them better, learn about their environmental-friendliness, and know the difference…starting with renewable energy.
For an energy source to be renewable, it must be replenished at a rate that does not compromise its use on a human time scale. Fossil fuels form over millions of years, and the rate at which they are consumed is far faster than they can be produced. Fossil fuels are not renewable. Renewable energy sources include solar, wind, geothermal, hydro, and biomass. We can use as much of the sun’s energy as possible, which will not affect future generations’ ability to use it.
Fun fact – Did you know that enough sunlight reaches the Earth in just one hour to provide all our energy needs for an entire year?
Harnessing wind energy is also completely renewable. Geothermal (the heat generated from the Earth’s core), hydro (water), and biomass (organic materials like wood, plant matter, or manure) are all renewable energy sources in most contexts. However, even these fuel sources can be locally exploited if we’re not careful. Timber provides a great example of this. We are bound by the tree’s ability to regrow. If we use the resource faster than regrowth is possible or without regard for the soil that nourishes it, we’ll experience a shortage, even if only temporarily. This brings us to the concept of sustainability.
The good news is that the capacity and production of renewable energy is growing. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) “Renewable energy statistics 2024” report, world capacity and production of renewable energy has grown 127% from 1,698,295 MWs in 2014, to 3,864,522 MWs in 2023.
The United States’ capacity and production has grown from 180,970 MWs to 385,205 MWs in the same time period, just shy of 10% of the world’s renewable energy.
Sustainability is the idea that a process can endure. To do so, it must achieve a balance between its environmental, social, and economic impacts. Only when a harmonious overlap occurs can the process be called sustainable. Sustainable timber would be renewable. This is because it would be harvested in a way that produces enough profit to be economically viable and can be replenished continuously without harming the environment, the people within the supply chain, or nearby communities.
Now, let’s circle back to your search for environmentally friendly energy.
The most renewable way to heat and power your home may be a combination of a geothermal heat pump and solar panels, but is that sustainable? That will depend on your budget. For some people, absolutely, but most would likely say no. Sustainability exists on the spectrum and will look slightly different for each person. Start with the options that are both available and affordable to you. Then, consider how each impacts the environment.
If installing solar panels isn’t an option, consider choosing a renewable electricity plan rather than traditional grid-based electricity. Renewable electricity is often competitively priced, making it both a renewable and sustainable choice for powering your life.
When considering how to heat, you have far more options, which can feel overwhelming. From an environmental perspective, electrification is the best because it can be paired with renewable electricity. Geothermal heat pumps require less electricity due to the helping hand from a stable temperature found just 5 feet below ground, but they come with a steep price tag. Air source heat pumps use the temperature differences between indoor and outdoor air and are powered by electricity. Traditionally, this technology has been inefficient in cold climates, which could lead to hefty winter electricity bills or chilly living areas. However, over the past several years, advances in HVAC technology have produced cold-climate air source heat pumps that can continue to perform at much lower temperatures.
You might also consider supplementing your heat pump with a high-efficiency natural gas furnace. Although including fossil fuels in your energy mix is not renewable, if used as supplemental heat on the coldest days, this is more sustainable than relying solely on natural gas.
Perhaps you warm your home with heating oil, but natural gas is unavailable. Options you might consider include full electrification, propane, or even using renewable or blended heating oil. For each, there will be things to consider—price, emissions, availability, and maintenance, to name a few. Understanding the tradeoffs will allow you to make the decision that is right for you.
If you have questions about how to meet your home or business’s energy goals, contact an energy professional at Shipley Energy. Our team can help you navigate renewable and sustainable options that make sense for your unique situation.
