Energy deregulation gives consumers choices when it comes to the companies that provide their home electricity. Suppliers can compete for your electricity dollars in a variety of ways, offering low prices, short and long-term contracts, fixed or variable rates, and a choice in how your energy is generated. The sheer volume of options can seem so complicated that you need to ask an electrician to help you tangle out the pros and cons of the available plans. One area in particular that can trip up consumers has to do with whether the source of their electricity is green or renewable. Read on to learn the difference.

Green Customers are Loyal Customers

Currently, 15 states plus Washington, D.C. have active electricity deregulation programs, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, and these states are largely concentrated in the Northeast. Consumers who live in deregulated states are likely to be flooded with energy offers, often promising electricity that is derived from green or renewable sources. Purchasing this environmentally friendly power usually costs a bit more than electricity that comes from more traditional sources like coal, but some homeowners like to put their money where their mouth is when it comes to reducing carbon emissions.

Those customers who go green are valuable to the supplier because they are less likely to jump ship based on the availability of a cheaper energy source. "A customer on a renewable-energy product has actively decided what is important to them and has selected their supplier accordingly," Ritchie Hudson, Pennsylvania chairman of the Retail Energy Supply Association, said to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

A Question of Semantics

However, while many suppliers and consumers treat green and renewable sources of electricity as synonymous, there is a distinction. Green energy is that which comes from specific sources that have the highest environmental benefit, including solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, eligible biomass and small hydroelectric sources, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Meanwhile, renewable energy “includes resources that rely on fuel sources that restore themselves over short periods of time and do not diminish,” which includes all the green options but also other sources such as large hydroelectric dams, which present certain environmental tradeoffs.

That means that if you really want to limit your impact on the Earth as much as possible, go green in lieu of simply choosing renewable energy. You can further refine your choices by asking about the specific source of the electricity, if you have a preference for solar, wind or another option.

Ask an Electrician About Your Options

Deregulated energy markets give you flexibility, but can also sow consumer confusion. If you need help deciphering the offerings of your state's electricity providers, ask an electrician who can walk you through your choices.

Ceiling fans are your answer to staying cool this summer without costing you a small fortune. You have probably heard about the benefit of ceiling fans in the past, but there is truly a major benefit to having one installed. The energy savings are worth the initial investment, which is actually quite minimal. A Santa Monica electrician, like those at The Electric Connection, can take care of the install for you. All you need to do is pick out the perfect fan for your room. Here are a few facts that will help you truly understand the benefits to running a ceiling fan.

*A ceiling fan costs about 2 or 3 cents an hour to run. An air conditioner costs about 50 cents an hour. Do the math, to run your air conditioner all day, it will cost you $12. Not much, but when you calculate an average month, that is nearly $360! The fan will cost about $22 a month.

*An air conditioner uses about 3,500 watts when it is running versus 60 watts a ceiling fan uses.

*Fans can be installed in place of the light fixture in the room. Most fans are either equipped with lights or a light assembly can be added to a fan.

If you run your ceiling fan on high, spinning counterclockwise, you can crank up your air conditioner a few degrees and still feel comfortable. While your fan won’t produce cool air, the breeze the blades will create feels cool and you won’t be tempted to turn the AC down. You can discuss this more with your electrician. Santa Monica homeowners may even choose to install fans in bedrooms as well. This makes sleeping much more comfortable. The whir of the blades is soothing and the gentle breeze keeps you comfortable despite the heat. Take the first step to staying cool this summer and call The Electric Connection to have your ceiling fan installed.