Did you know that the average server produces the same emissions as a 15 mpg SUV?

We here at 713 Go Green.com feel it is important to let you know that while we work to promote energy efficient standards in the HVAC industry, we also practice the use of green energy online. Our site is hosted on a server that uses 130% of  Texas wind energy.

That’s right! 130%!

Our web host purchases Renewable Energy Credits representing 130% of the electricity used to both power and cool our server. Wind credits are generated here in our home state of Texas!

Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) are tradeable credits representing all the environmental benefits of 1 megawatt hour of renewable energy. So when purchasing Texas wind RECs, it’s basically paying a Texas windfarm to generate renewable energy. For every REC purchased the windfarm generates 1 megawatt of Texas wind power and puts it into the grid. When our server draws power from the grid, we can then claim credit for that wind power generated on its behalf.

RECs aren’t the only offsetting option out there, there are also Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) and Voluntary/Verified Emission Reductions (VERs). The main difference between the three is this: each REC represents 1 additional megawatt of North American wind power, whereas each CER or VER represents one metric ton of reduced or avoided carbon dioxide emissions. CERs and VERs can be generated from a whole range of projects (fuel switching, forestry, changes in industrial processes, etc.), but RECs can only be created by the production of renewable energy.

So why do RECs make the most sense? RECs enable our host to green its energy right at the source and support the development of clean power, rather than simply paying another company to not pollute.

For some options of what you can do to promote green living visit http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/index.html .