Green power vs. Solar panels: How do they compare?

Both rooftop solar projects and utility green power plans involve energy from renewable sources with minimal environmental impacts. Solar is one of the technologies under the "green power" umbrella, so both options will reduce your environmental impact.

Specifically, choosing green power or rooftop solar to provide your home electricity drastically reduces the greenhouse gas emissions from your personal energy use. Conventional fuel sources (coal or natural gas, for example) release pollutants, including greenhouse gases, into the atmosphere when they're burned. In contrast, renewable sources like wind, solar, and hydropower only cause pollution during equipment production.

One small difference in environmental impact between green power and rooftop solar comes from land use. Green power programs rely on the mass production of clean energy, which requires land development. For example, a utility may install several acres worth of solar panels or build large wind turbines throughout an undeveloped landscape. An under-recognized benefit of rooftop solar is that you're repurposing an already-developed surface. Adding solar panels to your roof doesn't alter any untouched landscape; it makes further use of already functional space.

The economic benefits are the most significant difference between green power and rooftop solar. Most obviously, rooftop solar involves owning or leasing your energy generation system, while a green power program doesn't give you actual ownership of anything.

This has many economic impacts, namely, your ability to save money long-term. A green power program will cost less out of pocket, but a rooftop solar system will save you significant money on your electric bills over time. Once your system's payback period is up, you're essentially your own electric utility, producing electricity by yourself rather than paying your utility. Aside from small maintenance costs that are usually covered by solar warranties, long-term ownership of a rooftop solar array can save you thousands of dollars.

Many clean energy solutions are available, with more cropping up regularly as technology advances. Luckily, you don't have to pick one renewable energy generation method. When it comes to green power programs and rooftop solar installations, pairing the two options together may be your most effective option.

If your rooftop solar array doesn't provide all the electricity you need for your home, you can cover the remainder with a small green power purchase. That way, your home will be entirely powered by renewables for a minimum environmental impact. And don't worry about producing more power than you need once you add a green power purchase – by installing a solar battery system you can store any extra solar production for backup to ensure you have power during an outage.