Learn how you can help save the rainforest!

Aerial drone view of lush, green tropical rainforest

Rainforest Protection

Think Energy will protect 50 trees in the rainforest for each new customer enrolled in our clean electricity or community solar service.

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Glossary of Terms

Alternative Energy: Energy generated in ways that do not deplete natural resources or harm the environment, especially by avoiding the use of fossil fuels and nuclear power.

Carbon Footprint: The total amount of greenhouse gases produced to directly and indirectly support human activities, usually expressed in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide (CO2).

Demand Response: A change in the power consumption of an electric utility customer to better match the demand for power with the supply.

Energy Audit: A systematic analysis of a building or complex to understand the energy consumption and to identify methods to reduce energy intake and costs.

Feed-in Tariff (FiT): A policy mechanism designed to accelerate investment in renewable energy technologies by providing them with remuneration above the retail or wholesale rates of electricity.

Grid Parity: The point at which renewable electricity is equal to or cheaper than grid power.

Hybrid System: An energy system that is composed of more than one type of energy source or storage. Typically refers to systems that combine renewable sources like wind and solar with a backup form of energy such as diesel generators.

Inverter: An electronic device that converts electricity from direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC), which is the form used by most electrical grids and home appliances.

Kilowatt-hour (kWh): A measure of electrical energy equivalent to a power consumption of 1,000 watts for 1 hour.

Net Metering: A system in which solar panels or other renewable energy generators are connected to a public-utility power grid and surplus power is transferred onto the grid, allowing customers to offset the cost of power drawn from the utility.

Photovoltaic (PV) System: A power system designed to supply usable solar power by means of photovoltaics, which are solar panels that convert sunlight directly into electricity.

Renewable Energy Certificate (REC): A market-based instrument that represents the property rights to the environmental, social, and other non-power attributes of renewable electricity generation.

Sustainability: Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, particularly with regard to the use and conservation of natural resources.

Thermal Insulation: Materials used to reduce the rate of heat transfer, and the methods and processes used to reduce heat transfer.

Zero-energy Building: A building with zero net energy consumption, meaning the total amount of energy used by the building on an annual basis is roughly equal to the amount of renewable energy created on the site.