Cooperative Living May 2018 - 25

YourBusiness | by Anne Prince, Contributing Writer
Beneficial
Environmentally Beneficial Electrification
How using electricity can benefit our world.
I
f you are like many Americans, when given the choice, you
would prefer that your energy come from renewable
sources such as solar or wind power rather than fossil fuels.
As electric utilities shift to more options that include
renewable-energy sources and make existing generation
technologies cleaner, electricity uses less fossil fuel per
kilowatt-hour of energy produced. This idea of
" environmentally beneficial electrification " means that
innovations in energy technology are creating new ways to
use electricity instead of on-site fossil fuels such as propane,
natural gas and fuel oil.
In addition to the utility industry, environmental groups
such as the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
recognize the value of this concept. Sheryl Carter, codirector
of the NRDC Energy Program, commented that,
" Beneficial electrification will
continue to play a big
role in accelerating
this transition in an
effective and
economic way,
to the benefit of
consumers, energy
resilience and
the environment. "
electrification is a
means to reducing
greenhouse gases
and helping the
environment.
Electric appliances can become
greener over time
As a practical matter, beneficial electrification means that
electric appliances, including your water heater, clothes dryer
and oven, have the potential to become greener over time.
When your electric co-op takes advantage of advances in
technology and the market at the generation point, it means
those efficiencies are inherently passed along to you, the
co-op member.
Because large appliances have a typical lifespan of 15 to 20
years, it means that you are able to benefit from the flexibility
of the grid in addition to the increased efficiency of the
particular appliance. In other words, the high-efficiency
electric oven you have today could be powered by renewable
sources three years from now. This would not be the case
with gas appliances where you are essentially locked into the
technology of that gas appliance for the 15- to 20-year
lifespan. As your co-op is able to tap into more renewable
options in the future, the only way you would be able to
benefit from this trend is through an electric appliance.
Small steps to reducing carbon footprint
For consumers and homeowners looking for more
environmentally friendly energy options, choosing electric
appliances over those powered by fossil fuels is an easy
solution. Whether through electric lawn mowers, blowers
and weed whackers (plug-in or rechargeable) or through
electric water heaters and other appliances, beneficial
electrification is a means to reducing greenhouse gases and
helping the environment.
At the national level, electric co-ops across the country are
purchasing and generating more renewable resources,
bringing wind, solar and geothermal energy into the electric
power system, which means electricity is becoming greener.
As the overall energy sector continues to evolve, Virginia's
electric cooperatives are striving to take advantage of the
advances in technology and the opportunities of the market
as they become available. This means we can leverage the
flexibility of the grid to offer a wider range of renewable
power choices as we continue to deliver safe, reliable and
affordable power to our community.
Look for ways to choose beneficial electrification in the
future. As NRDC's Carter further observed, " The successful
transition to a clean energy future will require substantial
reliance on efficient electric technologies like electric vehicles
and advanced electric water heating, including heat pump or
grid-interactive resistance water heaters, powered by an
increasingly cleaner and more flexible electric system. " 
Anne Prince writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National
Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the Arlington, Virginia-based service
arm of the nation's 900-plus consumer-owned, not-for-profit electric
cooperatives.
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Cooperative Living May 2018

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