For almost 4 years, I’ve been part of the Clean Currents team as we’ve worked hard to transform the relationship customers have with their electricity supplier. We want our customers to love their energy company. Based on some of our recent surveys, we’re doing pretty well on this front with both our business and individual customers. Getting positive comments from customers through emails, social media, and at events has been one of the most rewarding parts of my job.

Now that I’m getting ready to say goodbye to head back to school, I wanted to share some of the reasons why I LOVE Clean Currents.

1) We care.

The people that work for this company have a tremendous amount of passion. As a group, we care about climate change, the environment, our community and – of course – our customers. Our kitchen conversations are often about local volunteer opportunities, our awesome new CSA, the Stop Keystone rally over the weekend, or an interesting Grist article about sustainability or environmentalism. In terms of caring about customers, my coworkers will stay late to figure out the answer to a tricky customer question or work evenings and weeknights to attend an event for one of our business customers — and always with a smile.

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There are thousands of mentoring programs in the country serving three million youths. Dozens of states and cities have launched mentoring programs, and many corporations have their own initiatives. If there is one thing that Americans seem to agree on, it is that millions of children need guidance from positive adult role models.

That’s why it was so easy to create Lots of Power, our new mentoring program in Philadelphia that addresses one of the city’s biggest problems–vacant lots. Our project will pair high-school age students with professional designers and architects to research and develop innovative concepts for specific vacant lots in Kensington.

During the six-week program, teen participants will work in teams with professional mentor to gain real-world experience using design thinking to discover and exhibit creative potential, communicate their ideas and take positive action in their communities.

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Residents and businesses in Washington, DC, Maryland and Pennsylvania have the power to choose their electric supplier. If you pay your electricity bill, you can choose to support renewable energy every time you turn on your lights.

The Quick Answer

When you switch to Clean Currents, you will still receive one electric bill from your utility. However, Clean Currents will be responsible for the generation and transmission of your power. For all the electricity you use in your home or business, we purchase enough Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) to match your electricity usage.

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It’s the summer — the season of fresh produce. So, what does that have to do with wind power? Because purchasing power impacts markets:  both farmers markets and energy markets.

When you want to buy organic strawberries at the grocery store, you select the ones with the green sticker from the organic section and bring them to the checkout.

You’ll pay a little extra for that organic produce, and part of your payment goes to the organic farmer who produced the strawberries.  In this transaction, it’s clear that your purchase supports the sustainable growing practices that organic farming represents.

Unfortunately, being a socially responsible energy consumer isn’t quite as simple. If it were, I have a feeling that we would be using much more renewable energy in the US, and that Clean Currents might already be a fortune 500 company.

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This spring we’ve gone from Charm City Run’s birthday celebration to Tour Dem Parks, Hon! to ask you what makes you feel energized. We got some great answers ranging from hiking, biking and running to an office favorite of: “I’m on a trail deep in the woods; I can’t hear anything but the trees blowing”.

Hundreds of people have pledged to Energize Responsibly by ditching dirty power and supporting wind power at home. And, these three lucky pledge takers are taking home our grand prizes:

• Katrina W. — Specialized Brand Bike
• Bob B. — ChicoBag Day Pack filled with a Kleen Kanteen and Michele’s Granola
• Paul L. — Charm City Run gift card

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Melissa and Brian of Davidsonville, MD, recently installed a solar thermal system on their roof. They talk with us about why they chose to install a solar thermal system and gave us some tips on how to live a greener life.

Where did you first hear about Clean Currents’ solar water heating solutions?

We first read about Clean Currents in a local magazine called Nesting, and when we asked an environmentally-savvy friend about her solar water panels, she whole-heartedly recommended Clean Currents. Now we recommend Clean Currents.

Why did you choose to have a solar water heating system installed on your home?

We have a big house that, if we’re not careful, could take us down in energy costs. As a family of five we use a lot of hot water — for bathing, dishwashing, and clothes washing. Since we use well water, we essentially have free water. With the solar thermal system, we essentially have free hot water.

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Back in April, June 10th seemed forever away. Now, it’s just around the corner. Why are we obsessed with June 10th? Because it’s the last day to be part of Energize Responsibly, of course!

(Insert awesome flashback music here)

This spring, we launched Energize Responsibly: our initiative to motivate 1,000 people in the Baltimore area to pledge to ditch dirty air and support wind power at home.

Pledge-takers are entered to win:

• A Specialized bike
• A ChicoBag DayPacker filled with goodies
• Charm City Run gift cards

Don’t worry! There’s still time to be part of Energize Responsibly and get a chance at these awesome prizes. Enter by taking the pledge to Energize Responsibly.

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World Environment Day is back again! It’s a great reason to celebrate our world and participate in positive environmental action…but what exactly is it?

World Environment Day was first celebrated 41 years ago at the first United Nations Conference on the Human Environment. The conference began on June 5th, 1972, and is considered a breakthrough event in the development of international environmentalism. It opened up international dialogue on human interactions with the environment, which had not been addressed on the global scale before.

The conference helped build a framework for governments and international organizations to deal with environmental issues, current and future. Today, the UNEP uses June 5th to continue the tradition of education and discussion around international environmental problems. Each year there is a new theme and a new country acts as the official World Environment Day host.

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For those of you who have had the delight of dining at the famous Busboys & Poets, you’ve probably noticed the inspirational murals lining the walls. These beautiful pieces are the works of art of Andy Shallal, a well-known artist, activist, and founder of Busboys & Poets.

Andy has been in the restaurant business for years, but in 2005, he opened the first Busboys & Poets at 14th & V St, NW. These restaurants combine the elements of art, books, performance, culture, and good food under one roof. As Andy describes it, Busboys & Poets is, “a place where multiple layers of things are happening”.

The inspiration for Andy’s unique business model is rooted in his goal: to break-down barriers and create a holistic community in which the city’s ethnic, literary, arts, and international elements are combined. Andy’s heroic efforts speak to his influential role in redefining the DC community as a less segmented and segregated community.

Poetry — Andy’s personal favorite — serves as a great art form and a community builder that actively brings people together to foster this vision of community. Running about 20 poetry programs monthly, Busboys has been instrumental in inspiring a renaissance of poetry in the U Street area.

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Electricity prices are notoriously difficult to predict and are affected by factors such as weather, economic conditions, required investments in aging grid infrastructure, and resource availability. In the past several years, the economic recession stifled demand for electricity. At the same time, an abundance of natural gas resources available by new drilling techniques such as hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and horizontal drilling led to increased supply. Both of these factors contributed to a significant dip in overall wholesale energy prices in recent years. However, the general trend is that energy prices, like the prices of other goods, rise over time. In our grid region (called PJM), there is an added upward pressure on prices right now as a result of record high capacity charges to finance improvement to the regional grid (Learn more about Capacity Charges). This impacts everyone – even those selling wind power.

So what does it mean for your business?
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We are grateful to be recognized by B Corporation as a 2013 Best for the Environment on Environmental Impact honoree.  This designation is given to the top 10% of B Corporations in the Environmental Impact category. The diverse list of honorees includes businesses from 30 industries and 11 countries.

Certified B Corps voluntarily meet higher standards for transparency, community engagement and environmental impact. Collectively, we are changing the way business is done — making the triple bottom line as important and effective as the financial bottom line.

Clean Currents was one of the first companies in the state of Maryland to complete the B Corp assessment and adopt the B Corp legal framework into its operating structure and was the first company in the state of Maryland an the United States to file to become a Benefit LLC.
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Understanding all the parts of an electricity price quote can confuse many. There is the rate per kWh as well as the specific charges for Generation, Transmission and Capacity. Clean Currents and other energy suppliers do not include distribution charges and taxes in the price quote. As part of helping you be an informed green energy shopper, we are going to focus on demystifying the Capacity charge.

You may have noticed that your electric bill contains several different charges: distribution, generation, transmission, among others. The distribution portion of your bill goes to the local utility, whether or not you choose an alternate supplier like Clean Currents. This portion finances the maintenance of local power lines. The Generation and Transmission (or “Energy Charge”) are controlled by the electric supplier you choose and account for the generation of energy and the transportation of it across long distance power lines – called transmission lines. Transmission lines are similar to the local distribution lines maintained by a local utility, but since they cross utility regions and state lines, they are maintained by a “market operator”. In our area, this operator is called PJM. This entity is in charge of our regional power grid, and in addition to maintaining these long distance transmission lines, also makes sure the regional grid is balanced and operates smoothly. This function is financed through capacity charges, which are included in the Energy Charge.
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National Bike Month has been a blast. Aside from down right chilly weather and some rain showers, we’ve had a great time getting back on our bikes after the winter and getting to know some of the great biking organizations in DC, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.

One of our favorites — and newly wind powered — is the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA). As the DC region’s non-profit biking association, WABA promotes bicycling as a fun, affordable mode of transportation that builds community, keeps you healthy, and keeps environment healthy too.

WABA advocates for better bicycling conditions and transportation choices. They also educate the community about safe bicycling through classes and events. They do all of this with the vision of fully-integrated transportation system in the DC region that links transit, trails, bicycling, and walking.
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Last week I had the opportunity to travel to Chicago for WINDPOWER 2013:  the American Wind Energy Association’s annual conference and trade show.

As a conference volunteer, my primary responsibility was to administer surveys to representatives of fifty different companies that manufacture components for wind turbines here in the United States. There are approximately 8,000 parts in a wind turbine, and about two-thirds of those parts are sourced from manufacturing plants located in the U.S.

Over the course of three days, I spoke with representatives of companies that manufacture nacelles, towers, bearings, lighting, and what seemed like everything in between.

The characteristics of the manufacturing plants and their parent companies varied. Some supply parts exclusively to the wind industry, whereas for others, the wind industry represents only 5% of their business.
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As if we weren’t already bursting our buttons in pride over the high quality schools in the DC metro area, several area schools were just recognized by the EPA for their renewable energy purchases through the Green Power Partnership program.

Four 100% Clean Currents powered schools graced the top 20 K-12 list: Bullis School, Norwood School, Maret School, and Melvin J Berman Hebrew Academy. Beyond their commitment to renewable energy, here’s a bit about why we love them:

Bullis School

Bullis School is an independent, co-educational school in Potomac, MD.  Educating students in grades 3-12, its mission is to provide a balanced academic, artistic, athletic and community service experience. Bullis’ vision to prepare students to be ‘caring citizens and critical thinkers’ is apparent in its green principles.

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Happy Bike Month! We’re all about this mode of transportation, and the many ways we’ll celebrate our bicycles this month. To kick things off, we asked the Washington Area Bicycle Association (WABA) to send us tips for participating in Bike to Work Day on May 17th. Not only is it a great day celebrating biking in DC, MD and VA, but it’s also a primary way to tally bike commuters. So check out these tips, and we’ll see you May 17th!

What is Bike to Work Day?

Bike to Work Day is a yearly event that encourages commuters to bike to work. BTWD is a free event and open to everyone in the DC and Baltimore area. It’s a celebration of biking in our region! This year, it’s on Friday, May 17.

Why should someone who has never biked to work give it a try?

Besides being one of the most convenient, least expensive ways to get around town, it’s fun! Bike commuting is better for the environment, your wallet, and your waistline.

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We bet you didn’t know its Air Quality Awareness week! Well, it is. And that means it’s time to learn a bit about how air quality affects all of us.

The American Lung Association just released their 2013 State of the Air report. While overall, air pollution is decreasing, 43% of people still live in areas with unhealthy levels of air pollution.

Unhealthy levels of ozone and particle pollution put people at risk for a range of health problems from asthma to increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. Some groups, including older, younger, and people with asthma and cardiovascular disease, are especially at risk.

The primary culprits of smog, ozone, and particulate pollution are emissions from coal power plant and cars. Although regulations are tighter on coal power plants, they are still among the largest contributors to air pollution and produce 84 known hazardous pollutants including arsenic and mercury along with carbon dioxide.

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Air Quality Awareness Week isn’t just about the air outside. If you’re anything like me, you spend most of your day at work inside. The air inside our offices can be more polluted than the air outside. According to the Oregon Environmental Council, poor indoor air quality can result in flu like symptoms including headaches, sore throats, and itchy eyes.

Here are 5 tips for improving your indoor air quality:

1. Open the windows or store front door. Let the air from outside circulate and carry away some of those dust particles. Remember to turn off the A/C first and don’t open on code red and orange days.

2. Bring nature inside with plants! The Mother Nature Network has created a list of 15 houseplants for improving air quality.

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As we’re asking people to Energize Responsibly this spring, we wanted to know what gets people up and moving. Here’s what we found:

The American Lung Association just released their new State of the Air Report for 2013, and things are looking up, especially for Baltimore, MD. But, nationwide, there are 131.8 million people living in areas with unhealthy pollution — that’s 42% of the nation!

Despite advances in reducing pollution from coal fired power plants, they are still one of the largest contributors to particle pollution, ozone pollution, mercury, and climate change.

By switching your home to clean, wind power you’re helping us get one step closer to clean air for everyone. Have you taken the pledge to ditch dirty air yet? If not, join us and be part of a clean energy future.

MORE:

Let’s Ditch Dirty Air and Energize Responsibly

Energize Responsibly

American Lung Association State of the Air Report 2013