February 2022 CarbonBetter® Impact Update
Every month we share the positive impact our customers have made through their use of CarbonBetter-certified 100% energy, which is included in every Provision clean energy supply plan. Each customer on these plans receives an email with their personal impact for the month, and this blog post reflects the impact all of our customers have made together since we became CarbonBetter certified in October 2020.
We’re honored to be able to provide affordable clean energy that makes a real difference. Check out all of our past Impact Updates here!
Our Customers’ CarbonBetter Impact – February 2022 Update
62.6k
mWh
Provision customers have funded 62,594 mWh of clean energy generation, which could power 6,730 homes for a year.*
28.7k
tons
Provision customers have offset 28,717 tons of carbon, which is like avoiding over 71 million miles of driving.**
38.3k
trees
Provision customers have funded planting 38,328 trees, which may sequester 623 tons of carbon in their lifetime.***
Want to be included in our next impact update?
It’s easy to contribute to the positive impact we make each month. All Provision energy plans include CarbonBetter clean energy, which helps you make a difference automatically when you use energy at home.
Our customers help fund clean energy generation through renewable energy certificates, offset carbon through carbon credits, and plant trees to aid in reforestation and increase our natural carbon-capturing capabilities. It’s never too late to start using your energy for good.
Featured Provision Project: Davidson County Landfill
The Davidson County Landfill is a municipal solid waste facility in Lexington, North Carolina. In June of 2009, the Davidson County Board of Commissioners established a project that is designed to collect and convert greenhouse gases produced at the landfill – mainly methane – into electricity. The project produces enough energy to power roughly 1,500 to 2,000 homes. The greenhouse gas emissions that are avoided by the technology in the landfill are equivalent to reducing more than 10,000 motor vehicles from the road annually.
Source: Google Maps
The county has partnered with Enerdyne Power Systems, a partner with the Environmental Protection Agency and DTE Biomass Energy, to construct 77 vertical wells as a greenhouse gases collection system for the landfill. About 50 percent of the gas collected is methane. The gas collected would be burned in a flare and then converted into electricity via a generator set. This landfill gas-to-energy project has a total environmental benefit equivalent to the carbon captured by more than 13,600 acres of pine forest per year.
Methane is the natural byproduct of the decomposition of biomass. Biomass is organic, meaning it comes from living organisms, like plants, food, and animals. When biomass rots, similar to the treatment of trash and other activities at waste management facilities and landfills, it releases methane and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. These greenhouse gases are detrimental to the environment because they trap heat which contributes to climate change. Before the project, methane and other greenhouse gases were just released into the atmosphere, like typical landfills or waste facilities.
Source: DTE Vantage
However, by utilizing technology the Davidson County Landfill Gas Project has been able to collect the harmful greenhouse gas emissions and convert them into renewable energy. From the clean electricity generated, carbon credits are created so others can purchase the environmental attributes of the energy generated. The county sells these carbon credits to businesses that are looking to reduce their emissions.
As a Provision customer, you’re funding projects like these that not only help you offset your carbon footprint as individuals but also contribute to a growing effort to make climate action accessible to all. Progress must be made by businesses, organizations, and individuals because we are all stakeholders in protecting our environment to create a more sustainable planet as our home. With Provision, we make it easy to use your energy for good.
Every Provision Customer Makes a Difference
About CarbonBetter Impact Calculations:
*The typical home in your area uses 9,300 kWh of electricity per year.
**https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gases-equivalencies-calculator-calculations-and-references#gasoline
***https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gases-equivalencies-calculator-calculations-and-references#seedlings
Impact is calculated based on our customers’ billings in the impact month, but planting, funding, and offsetting may not happen in that month. These activities must align with planting seasons and project life cycles to be effective. If you have any questions, please contact us at hello@getprovision.com.
